Neoliberalism and higher education : compassionate pedagogy as an act of resistance

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paper

Abstract

![CDATA[Neoliberalism in Higher Education (HE) has dominated academic discourse for over 20 years and has been promulgated through the mechanisms of vocationalisation, massification and marketisation (Marginson, 1997). As the hegemonic project of neoliberalism enters its own existential crisis and becomes intensified (Ali, 2015), so have the impacts on individuals across the social spectrum. Neoliberal HE, however has its own peculiar double impact, making it worthy of attention for those wishing to resist the suffering it causes. Firstly – through the operation of vocationalisation and marketisation – HE contributes to the reproduction of neoliberal technocracy (Kincheloe, 2008), secondly – through the impact of massification (Houlbrook, 2009) – it contributes to the direct suffering of students. In the latter case this has arisen through the direct experiences of, so called, ‘non-traditional’ students within the discourse of ‘access’ and HE. This paper outlines how some of these things operate in the experience of students in HE and argues a case for compassionate pedagogy, where kindness is a central theme. In doing so, the argument is made for both compassion as a logical counterpart to individual suffering (Ditrich, 2017) and as a platform for resistance to neoliberalism. The argument is further made that, if the aim of resistance is to promote social justice, then compassionate pedagogy needs to take a critical pedagogical form. The paper offers compassionate pedagogy as resistance, by drawing on research and practice in HE education settings of Social Work, Community Development and Adult Education (Houlbrook, 2019). It concludes by reviewing educational practices and strategies that could facilitate compassionate resistance to neoliberalism and its resultant suffering in and through HE.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBook of Abstracts: Social Suffering in the Neoliberal Age: Classificatory Logic and Systems of Governance, Symposium, Thursday, 18 July & Friday, 19 July 2019, Western Sydney University, Parramatta City Campus, Sydney, Australia
PublisherWestern Sydney University
Pages9-9
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 2019
EventSocial Suffering in the Neoliberal Age: Classificatory Logic and Systems of Governance -
Duration: 1 Jan 2019 → …

Conference

ConferenceSocial Suffering in the Neoliberal Age: Classificatory Logic and Systems of Governance
Period1/01/19 → …

Keywords

  • education, higher
  • neoliberalism
  • kindness
  • compassion
  • suffering
  • social aspects

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