Introductory description

This applied module offers students the opportunity to think through current trends affecting higher education, distil differences and similarities between higher education systems in different world regions, and engage creatively with higher education decision-making processes and policy challenges. The module is highly interactive and challenges students to design policy proposals; simulate decision-making processes; apply concepts learned during the module to analyse higher education in different national contexts and engage in comparative analysis.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The module will be structured in two distinct phases. During phase 1 of the module, several major trends affecting higher education internationally are introduced and discussed. These trends include (1) massification, diversification, stratification, and quality assurance, (2) access and equity, (3) flexible pathways and tertiary education, (4) internationalisation and the student experience. Activities included in Phase 1 will offer students opportunities to discern through the challenges associated with policy change in higher education.

Phase 2 of the module will focus on discussing the major trends listed above in the context of different world regions: (1) Africa and Middle East, (2) Asia and Oceania, (3) South and North America, (4) Europe. In Phase 2, students are asked to apply the concepts and trends discussed in Phase 1 to understand higher education in an assigned national context. In the form of a ‘conference symposium’ and over the course of four seminars, students will be asked to present the higher education system of their assigned national context. At the end of Phase 2 (and the module) students are asked to write an essay in which they compare the higher education system in their assigned country (and presented in the ‘conference symposium’) and a second country of their choice.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Show a systematic understanding of higher education systems and a critical awareness of current problems in the field.
• Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgement in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Practice decision-making in complex and unpredictable situations.
• Continue to advance their knowledge and understanding, and to develop new skills to a high level.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

International

The module will focus on discussing major higher education trends in different world regions: (1) Africa and Middle East, (2) Asia and Oceania, (3) South and North America, (4) Europe. International guest speakers are invited to contribute to select sessions.

Subject specific skills

• Students should demonstrate a critical understanding of:
  o the underlying values and concepts relevant to higher education
  o the complexity of the interaction between higher education, local, and global contexts
  o the societal and organisational structures and purposes of higher and tertiary educational systems
  o critiques of practice and research in the area of higher education
  o lead, support and work collaboratively with others and demonstrate an understanding of working effectively in teams
  o present and evaluate research findings in higher education
  o recognise and challenge inequalities in society, and embrace an anti-bias approach

Transferable skills

• Analysis and decision making
• Communication skills
• Creativity
• Critical thinking
• Data handling
• International cultural awareness
• Negotiation
• Problem solving
• Stakeholder and organisational awareness
• Team working