Research Seminar - Associate Professor Tal Gilead
From Human Capital to Human Flourishing: Rethinking education's economic aims
Abstract:
At present, an important turn in global educational policymaking is gradually taking place. After decades in which education policy was dominated by human capital theory and the desire to stimulate economic growth, a broader perspective now starts to emerge. Powerful policymaking bodies such as the OECD and UNESCO currently place greater emphasis on aims such as advancing well-being or human flourishing. This seminar will examine the underlying rationale of the discussed turn from a philosophical perspective. The first part of the seminar will critically analyse the dominant view of education’s role in the economy, which is grounded in human capital theory. This discussion will also point to its limitation. The second part of the seminar will focus on concepts of well-being and flourishing in educational policy. The link between well-being and economic aims will be presented. In addition, some concepts of well-being will be discussed, including the one advanced by the OECD. The seminar will end by suggesting a concept of well-being that could serve as a basis for future educational policymaking.
Bio:
Tal Gilead is an Associate Professor at the Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His main research areas are educational philosophy and educational policy. Tal earned his PhD from the Institute of Education – University College London and spent a year as visiting scholar at Teachers College, Columbia. Tal has recently served as one of the editors of vol. 1 of UNSESCO-MGIEP the International Science and Evidence-Based Educational Assessment, which focused on education for human flourishing. Tal is currently a visiting scholar at the UQ School of Education and will be here until August. Reach out to Tal at any stage during his visit at tal.gilead@mail.huji.ac.il
Date: Friday 26 May 2023
Time: 2:30 to 3:30 pm
Room: 14-116 Sir Llew Edward building #14
Zoom link: https://uqz.zoom.us/j/87928542829