As part of a class assignment that left me with a need to do extra reading, I picked up ‘Learning under Neoliberalism: Ethnographies of Governance in Higher Education, edited by Susan B. Hyatt, Boone W. Shear, and Susan Wright. So far, I have found it to be very informative and see it as text that can help shape my understanding of how neoliberal policies play out in “real life”.
The topic of neoliberalism in higher education is critical to me for two main reasons; 1) an interest in the consequences of market-driven reform and 2) a need to situate myself within current debates among scholars.
My understanding of neoliberalism can be described as the process of deregulating industries while adopting free market principles that strengthen the power of capitalism. Through this lens, knowledge is a commodity and the business of higher education becomes more influenced by private interests than public good. This post is not seeking to determine whether or not neoliberalism is “good” or “bad”, but to share my analysis on chapters from the book so followers can learn along with me.
For now, I am simply introducing the topic but stay tuned until next week when I share my first chapter review. Also, feel free to send me any questions or insight you might have on the topic.
Best regards,
O.O.O.