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Human Development and Capabilities

Re-imagining the university of the twenty-first century

Edited by Alejandra Boni, Melanie Walker

Published March 28th 2013 by Routledge – 240 pages

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    Description

    Globally, universities are the subject of public debate and disagreement about their private benefits or public good, and the key policy vehicle for driving human capital development for competitive knowledge economies. Yet what is increasingly lost in the disagreements about who should pay for university education is a more expansive imaginary which risks being lost in reductionist contemporary education policy. This is compounded by the influences on practices of students as consumers, of a university education as a private benefit and not a public good, of human capital outcomes over other graduate qualities, and of unfettered markets in education. Policy reductionism comes from a narrow vision of the activities, products, and objectives of the University and a blinkered vision of what is a knowledge society.

    Human Development and Capabilities, therefore, imaginatively applies a theoretical framework to universities as institutions and social practices from human development and the capability approach, attempting to show how universities might advance equalities rather than necessarily widen them, and how they can contribute to a sustainable and democratic society. Picking through the capability approach for human development, in relation to Universities, this book highlights and explores three main ideas:

      • theoretical insights to advance thinking about human development and higher education

      • Policy implications for the responsibilities and potential contributions of universities in a period of significant global change

      • Operationalising a New Imaginary

    This fresh take on the work and purpose of the University is essential reading for anyone interested in university education, capability approach and human development; particularly postgraduates, University policy makers, researchers and academics in the field of higher education.

    Contents

    Introduction A New University Imaginary Alejandra Boni and Melanie Walker Part I Theoretical Insights 1. Sustainability, Education and Capabilities Des Gasper and Shanti Georg, Erasmus University at Rotterdam, Netherlands 2. Social Justice Lukas Ertl, Marie Curie Fellow, Institute of Education, London 3. Quality Dimensions Alejandra Boni, Technical University of Valencia , Spain and Des Gasper, Erasmus University at Rotterdam, Netherlands Part II Policy implications 4.Higher Education Policy in Global TimesMelanie Walker, University of the Free State, South Africa, UK 5. Employability Geoff Hinchliffe, University of East Anglia, UK 6. Social Responsibility J. Felix Lozano, Technical University of Valencia, Spain 7.Equity and Graduate Attributes Vivienne Bozalek, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa Part III Operationalising a New Imaginary 8. Global Learning for Global Citizenship Hilary Landorf and Stephanie Doscher, Florida International University 9.Liberal Arts Education and the Formation of Valuable Capabilities Alberta Spreafico, University of Pavia, Italy 10. Integrating the capability approach with critical theory and deliberative democracy Luisa S. Deprez and Diane Wood, University of Southern Maine, USA 11. Capabilities and a Pedagogy for Global Identities Veronica Crosbie, Dublin City University, Ireland 12. Enhancing Citizenship Capabilities through Intercultural Education Pedro Flores Crespo and Juan Carlos Barrón Pastor, Mexico 13. Learning and Teaching for Reflective and Transformative Agency Jordi Peris, Technical University of Valencia, Spain

    Name: Human Development and Capabilities: Re-imagining the university of the twenty-first century (Paperback) – Routledge 
    Description: Edited by Alejandra Boni, Melanie Walker. Globally, universities are the subject of public debate and disagreement about their private benefits or public good, and the key policy vehicle for driving human capital development for competitive knowledge economies. Yet what is increasingly lost in...
    Categories: Higher Education Management, School Effectiveness & Improvement, Education Policy, School Leadership, Management & Administration