A801: Education Policy Analysis and Research in Comparative Perspective

How can policy analysts, leaders, consultants, and social entrepreneurs help improve educational opportunity around the world? How can policy analysis help poor and marginalized children get a relevant and meaningful education, that matters to their future life prospects and to the development of the societies in which they live? How can education support the development of inclusive and sustainable societies? This course examines key contemporary educational global challenges and debates, focusing on options to effect systemic change in public education systems. We will discuss current global efforts to increase the quality and relevancy of education. We will examine the role of international agencies and governments in advancing policy reform, and study various approaches to shaping policy reform. Students will conduct a policy analysis for a client examining how to align education policy to advance social equity, strengthen democracy and address climate change. The course may be of interest to students interested in education policy and leadership roles in system level reform in global contexts and in learning to draw lessons from international and comparative education.