Globalisation: Commodification and Education

“Globalisation refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society called global society”. Globalisation is a process, which has affected many areas of human life, one of those being education. The effects of globalisation on education bring rapid developments in technology and communications within learning systems across the world. These developments are changing the role of students and teachers, producing a shift from industrialised society towards information based society. Education is now seen as a lifelong learning and training process, developing skills and knowledge that is being traded as a commodity. Moreover, as a result of globalisation, the spread of education internationally has also affected on cultures worldwide, drawing education into this global capitalist competition. The notion “higher education” and commodification of cultures within the educational system have been the major criticisms of globalisation.

 Education is undergoing constant changes being affected by globalisation. There is no doubt that the introduction of technology into classrooms is changing the nature of delivering education to students. In today’s society, education can be made available to the students who are located in different places at any time by means of information technology. More educational materials and programs are made available in electronic forms allowing distance education systems. Some educational institutions around the world have developed open universities and high schools, employing online tutors to deliver knowledge through videotapes, telephone and Internet. Furthermore, students can be examined through computer managed online learning systems to do tutorial exercises rather than in a classroom. Data projectors and smart boards are replacing blackboards and chalk. Even exams and grades are becoming available through the use of electronic means. Subsequently, technology is foreseeing a change in the education environment towards a reliance on electronic sources to deliver material. These electronic developments in education portray that industrialised societies has been gradually shifted to information-based societies. Despite the barriers of distance, children and adults can now learn in a variety of ways and no longer need to be physically present in an educational institution.

Technologies and communication brings about new changes or modifications. Majority of the learners across the border despite caste, creed, race, sex, and age are able to learn through the use of information technologies. It provides information with a lesser time and help learners to complete their course successfully and effectively. However, rapid developments in technology and communication are greatly embraced by educational institutions in Western societies. Once again, developing countries are left behind, too weak and fragile to implement development programs for education, let alone technologies. This brings changes as people now acknowledge the importance of technologies as ideas, values and knowledge vital to education worldwide. 

Due to this factor, education is now seen as a lifelong learning and training process, developing skills and knowledge that is being traded as a commodity. This Western and urban-centred education influences internationalised education, emphasises on shaping children into intelligent people with a broad range of skills and knowledge to apply to a competitive, information based society. Education becomes an important investment in building human capital that will benefit technological innovation and economic growth. Thus, educational institutions in the post-industrial society are more market-oriented, focusing more on funds rather than providing sufficient education for students. Due to this increasing free trade around the globe, education is increasingly being drawn into this global capitalist competition. Schools and universities are employing teachers and professors with high performing skills and knowledge to ensure the advantages in the competition. Educators are being forced to compete in the global capitalist market and engage in the entrepreneurial activity since Internationalisation of education has become one of the key themes of educational policy. The internationalisation of education, particularly higher education, is a growing phenomenon.

In conclusion, globalisation has had many obvious effects on educational technology and communication systems. It has changed the way education is delivered as well as roles played by both teachers and students. In a positive view, globalisation has brought the convenience of distance education. On the other hand, it encourages higher education across the world. Education is now seen as a lifelong learning and training process, developing skills and knowledge that is being traded as a commodity. Education is seen as a pathway to better employment, status and power. Hence, problems such as inequality of access to technological information and knowledge in developing countries are rising as an effect of globalisation.



References:
Consuming Children, Kenway and Bullen, 2001, Designer schools, packaged students

Education as a Positional Good: Implications for Market-Based Reforms of State Schooling, Nick Adnett and Peter Davies British Journal of Educational Studies

Baudrillard, Jean, 2001, “The System of Objects”, in Jean Baudrillard: Selected Writings, edited by Mark Poster. Stanford: Stanford University Press