Ten Ten Globalization Globalization

Challenges for Challenges for Higher Higher

EducationEducationDeane NeubauerDeane Neubauer

IFE 2020 Leadership InstituteIFE 2020 Leadership InstituteSept. 13-24, 2010Sept. 13-24, 2010

DemographicsDemographics

Proposition 1: Demographic dynamics in Proposition 1: Demographic dynamics in part created by and in part articulated part created by and in part articulated through globalization affect the ability of through globalization affect the ability of countries to meet Higher Education access countries to meet Higher Education access and capacity challenges.and capacity challenges.

Workers--AlignmentWorkers--Alignment

Proposition 2: Shifting patterns of Proposition 2: Shifting patterns of production and consumption make the role production and consumption make the role of higher education in responding of of higher education in responding of employment alignment issues uncertain—employment alignment issues uncertain—what kinds of workers does a society need?what kinds of workers does a society need?

Interdependence and Interdependence and Governmental AutonomyGovernmental Autonomy

Proposition 3. Interdependence dynamics Proposition 3. Interdependence dynamics overwhelm national policy capabilities, in overwhelm national policy capabilities, in finance, migration, government revenues, finance, migration, government revenues, and education.and education.

Generalized Systemic Generalized Systemic EffectsEffects

Proposition 4. Perturbations of the global Proposition 4. Perturbations of the global system produce unintended consequences system produce unintended consequences such as climate change, pollution, etc—such as climate change, pollution, etc—which in turn affect curricular which in turn affect curricular responsibilitiesresponsibilities..

Neoliberalism’s LegacyNeoliberalism’s Legacy

Proposition 5. Neoliberalism’s promotion of Proposition 5. Neoliberalism’s promotion of market solutions and autonomy has market solutions and autonomy has resulted in expansion of private HE markets resulted in expansion of private HE markets often in situations of insufficient regulation, often in situations of insufficient regulation, thus affecting quality. thus affecting quality.

Knowledge IssuesKnowledge Issues

Proposition 6. Globalization’s stimulus for Proposition 6. Globalization’s stimulus for and embodiment of knowledge dynamics and embodiment of knowledge dynamics have created information singularity have created information singularity thereby eroding traditional sources of thereby eroding traditional sources of knowledge and standards, with knowledge and standards, with consequences for teaching methodology consequences for teaching methodology and student responsibility. and student responsibility.

Income InequalityIncome Inequality

Proposition 7. Income inequalities affect Proposition 7. Income inequalities affect resources for education. When combined resources for education. When combined with the ideology of neoliberalism and with the ideology of neoliberalism and private sector realization, they exhaust private sector realization, they exhaust commitments to education as a public good, commitments to education as a public good, and make education a commodity available and make education a commodity available only to those with means. only to those with means.

Instability and ChangeInstability and Change

Proposition 8. Instability and change within Proposition 8. Instability and change within economic production systems produce economic production systems produce instability within job systems, thereby instability within job systems, thereby aggravating the misalignment between aggravating the misalignment between higher education and job markets. higher education and job markets.

Global RankingsGlobal Rankings

Proposition 9. Notions of global Proposition 9. Notions of global competitiveness produce dynamics such as competitiveness produce dynamics such as rankings, which are inherently reductionist.rankings, which are inherently reductionist.

Culture, English, and Culture, English, and MediaMedia

Proposition 10. The communication and Proposition 10. The communication and cultural construction mechanisms of media cultural construction mechanisms of media and mass consumption, so much a part of and mass consumption, so much a part of contemporary globalization coupled with contemporary globalization coupled with other dynamics such as English primacy, other dynamics such as English primacy, erode higher education’s traditional role of erode higher education’s traditional role of cultural preservation.cultural preservation.