250328 Education, Public Policy and International Development: concepts, theories and issues (BS) (WiSe 2014/2015)

This seminar introduces a range of concepts, issues and theories from the social and political sciences that assist the understanding and analysis of the relationship between education, public policy and international development.
The seminar is organised through the study of broad overarching education and development theories and themes, followed by a more detailed theoretical discussion and exploration of applications, research evidence and case studies of policy and practice in the context of learning and education. Theoretical perspectives will draw on case studies to indicate how a perspective can be used to analyse educational issues and where appropriate refer to the use of indicators.
Examples of theories studied in this seminar:
• Human Capital Theory (see Schultz, Psacharopoulos, Hanushek and Woessmann)
• The capability approach (see Sen, Nussbaum)
• Rights-based approaches (see Tomasevski)
• Gender and development (see Unterhalter; Arnot; Walker)
• Social reproduction theory (see Carnoy, Bourdieu)
• Privatisation of education and Public-Private Partnerships (see Friedman, Patrinos, Ball, Carnoy)

The students will receive some texts to read in advance in order to discuss them in class. The sessions will combine a theoretical part with a practical part that involves discussing in small groups some case studies applying the different theories and concepts learned during the seminar.