1. Critically analyse current debates on broad political, economic and social issues relevant to East Asia. Analysis
Learning

2. Critically evaluate key policy interventions that aim to impact positively upon educational outcomes in East Asian countries.
Enquiry
Learning

3. Apply theoretical insights to the reform of issues of inequity and inequality in East Asian Education contexts.
Application
Knowledge and Understanding

4. Demonstrate a reflective approach to improving educational outcomes for learners.
Reflection
Problem Solving

A written report (5000 words) weighted at 100% which:

Critically analyses the impact of policies related to educational reform that aim to improve educational outcomes for
learners in a chosen country or region.

This module explores the relationship between educational reform and educational outcomes and in East Asian contexts. It introduces and critiques a range of sociological perspectives on education with particular emphasis on how experiences and outcomes of education are affected by social, political and economic issues such as poverty. The module explores the role that educational policy, practice and contemporary thinking can play in both reducing and perpetuating inequalities. Education plays a vital role in both shaping individual and collective identities and in reflecting and reinforcing dominant societal values, and this module explores a variety of different perspectives on these critical issues. The module considers the place of education in society and whether education systems provide opportunities for all, or whether they reflect, or reinforce, wider social and economic issues.

A variety of learning and teaching methods are used such as presentations, group discussions, case studies, problem based learning activities and participant centred investigations. There is a strong emphasis on activity-focused learning and participants are expected to actively engage in all sessions. In addition, participants are required to engage in independent study so as to consolidate and build upon their learning in taught sessions. This takes the form of undertaking follow-up tasks and work based self-assessments and reading key texts and research papers.

Fei, X.T. (1992) From the Soil, The Foundations of Chinese Society, University of California Press, Berkeley

Liu, Y. (2016) Higher Education, Meritocracy and Inequality in China, Springer Singapore, Singapore

Morgan, W.J. & Wu, B. (eds.) (2011) Higher Education Reform in China – Beyond the expansion, Routledge, Abingdon

Ruan, J. (2017) Guanxi, Social Capital and School Choice in China – The Rise of Ritual Capital, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke

Spence, J. (2013) The Search for Modern China (3rd Edition), W.W. Norton & Company, New York

• University Library for a range of relevant e-books and academic journals
• Materials and resources on the module VLE
• Access to academic and library support