Education Policy: International Study

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

In the pre-teaching period students are required to:

• Do preparatory reading on the education systems that will be visited
• Identify a topic for their 3000 word essay (this will also be the topic of their presentation which is a hurdle requirement)
• Find and read literature on their topic

340 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject involves travel to three nations to enable students to enable students to explore and investigate education systems outside Australia. There are two main components involved in the international visits:

1. School/institution- involving visits to a range of schools and other educational providers, in order to experience first-hand the structures of provision in the host countries. Students will be given a tour of the school/provider and will be briefed by a senior member of staff on the mission and clientele of the school/provider and on emerging policy issues as they affect that institution. There will be opportunities to ask questions and for discussion.

2. Policy- involving a session with a university and/or policy specialist with experience and expertise in post-compulsory education and training policy. Students will be provided with a seminar (or multiple seminars) offering a critical perspective on the main challenges facing policy makers in that country.

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There is one hurdle requirement:

• Present a 20-minute seminar paper during the study tour (equivalent to 3,000 words).

There are two assessment tasks:

• 3,000 word paper based on the seminar paper, due end of semester, 60%
• A reflective journal of learning and experiences during the study tour, equivalent to 4,000 words, due end of semester, 40%

Attendance at the seminars and site visits which comprise the study tour is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of them will normally result in failure in the subject.

Teese, R. & Polesel, J. (2003) Undemocratic Schooling, Melbourne University Press, Carlton.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Critically analyse, understand and report on education policy issues in a range of international systems and to apply these skills to their own work in the Australian context;
• Participate effectively as a team member in the context of an international study tour;
• Relate research findings to their own experience as practitioners;
• Report on policy issues in an international forum.