…and the market created the student to its image and likening. Neo-liberal governmentality and its effects on pedagogy and course design in higher education in Ireland

Authors

Lolich, Luciana

Issue Date

2011

Degree

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Rights

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Abstract

The article looks at two important documents in the context of education policy in Ireland: the Higher Education Authority‟s Strategic Plan 2008-2010 and the Government‟s report: Building Ireland‟ Smart Economy. It demonstrates how the entrepreneurial student is fabricated out of particular truths told about the present and the obligations that flow from this. Utilising governmentality theory it examines the reconstruction of students‟ subjectivities by focusing on three dimension of government: rationalities, technologies and ethics. It concludes that higher education is being framed in economic terms and other important aspects, like criticality and social responsibility are being undermined in our race towards economic progress. Author keywords: higher education, governmentality, student subjectivity