Neoliberalism, Human Capital and the Skills Agenda in Higher Education--The Irish Case.

摘要: The making of human capital is increasingly seen as a principal function higher education. A keyword in neoliberal ideology, represents subtle masking social conflict and expresses metaphorically the commodification abilities an alienating notion potential, both which sit ill with goals recent National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 (the Hunt Report) appeared Ireland January 2010, representative example official articulation, on part government corporations, capital/skills agenda post-crash Ireland. Human capital, now commonplace across discourse Ireland, complex ideological construct which, educational arena, gives voice two specific interests capital: provision workforce ever more narrowly suited current needs employers intensification competition between individuals labour market. subtly reinvents socio-economic processes acts driven solely by reconstitutes education adjunct economy. However, this paper argues, skills-driven can neither deliver large numbers high value jobs nor overcome deeper causes present crisis. This raising false expectations, alongside crudely reductionist view education, sets limits unchallenged hegemony particular strand ideology. In recession, during state attempting shift burden funding from public corporate individual contributions, those involved need provide robust political economy critique ideology order strengthen practical resistance it. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, after getting agreement injecting into banks, October 2008 ‘They will lend money out, won't they?’ 1 Irish Minister Finance Brian Lenihan, 2008, ‘The guarantee banks be cheapest bailout world so far’ 2 . Colin Chairman, Education, 2011, ‘Higher central future economic development lifelong learning upskilling among also contribute growth’ 3 As reported HBO US television documentary-drama ‘Too big Fail’ (2011). Times Friday 24 th , 2008. Introduction Report (DES 2011:3) Neoliberalism, skills 94 | P g e crisis stronger tendency, apologists system, towards selfdelusion. Belief market overrides everything else even, above statements show, when logic events points opposite direction. denial – characteristic feature dominant ideologies may indispensable effort restore hegemony, but it runs risk leaving exposed, particularly its own dictates seem compound rather than resolve same strident self-delusion education: assumptions about role not only offer no plausible solutions, either or educational, involve deeply demeaning society. Unveiling matters has special importance. systems play unique capitalism: they prepare people work; prioritise what should taught; and, at any given historical moment, decide how best meet (Belamy Foster 2011; Bowles Gintis 1976). They have socialising aim make ideas accepted currency amongst young. times capitalist crisis, often become battleground, Athens, London, Madison Santiago, varying degrees, recently shown (Swain Lipman 2011). With protraction austerity programmes cutbacks becoming harsher, expected occupy frontline opposition neoliberalism. argues that, case targeted fulfil perceives new requirements drive through, uncertainties consolidation policies. Official policy presented Report, clearly lays out these objectives, makes assumption, widely repeated elsewhere society, that highly skilled graduates route recovery. Underpinning thesis produce ‘human capital’ ‘smart’ fundamentally representation effaces class actual mechanisms capitalism; constitutes device reifies obscure conflict. argue while recession continues skills-to-growth model fails materialise, contradictions potential give rise greater disillusion.