The Paradox of Neoliberal Education Bureaucracy and Hysterical Resistance: The Case of New Zealand Schooling

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (100) ◽  
pp. 179-197
Author(s):  
Leon Salter
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
The Past ◽  
Key Policy ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
The University ◽  
Four Discourses

Neoliberal discourse often positions itself as the antithesis of bureaucracy. However, as the hegemonic political project of the past forty years, neoliberalism has imposed various forms of bureaucracy, most notably, those that audit performance. This contradiction between antagonism towards bureaucracy and bureaucratising tendencies is particularly resonant in the contemporary neoliberalised education sector, where the perceived risk of not producing self-managing, autonomous, economically productive subjects must be minimised through audit mechanisms which, conversely, necessarily decrease those capacities in students. Through a case study of the neoliberalisation of New Zealand's school sector, using the lens of Lacan's four discourses, this article argues that the discourses of the Master and the University have worked together to sometimes obscure, but at other times highlight, this contradiction. Drawing on policy documents, political speeches and reports, I highlight that a key policy which increased the visibility of the contradiction was National Standards, introduced in 2007 to reduce the risk of the unknown through the collection of performance data. I also draw on interviews with educationalists who adopt the discourse of the hysteric as a means to publicly highlight this contradiction, contesting the symbolic mandate of the teacher-as-data-node, while avoiding the kinds of full-frontal resistance that might cost them their jobs and jeopardise the education of children.

Understanding Contextual Layers of Policy and Motivations for Internationalization: Identifying Connections and Tensions

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Fischer ◽  
Wendy Green
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
Institutional Policies ◽  
National State ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Global Context ◽  
Key Policy ◽  
The University ◽  
Shed Light

Many have observed challenges in translating internationalization policy into practice in universities. When key policy documents provide inconsistent messages, a gap can emerge between vision and practice. Understanding the complexities of an institution’s local, national, and global context and its rationale for internationalization can shed light on why such gaps arise. This case study demonstrates how a thematic analysis of relevant international, national, state, and institutional policies can reveal tensions between these layers, and indicate possible reasons for the failure to translate policy into practice. The main rationale driving internationalization at the university studied here is economic; however, starting in 2016, a variation in key themes and, thus, rationales is found in the documents. This indicates a shift in the university’s internationalization discourse may be occurring. We argue that a more comprehensive approach to internationalization is needed to address inconsistencies in policy directions and drive practice.

scholarly journals Mapping the networks of ownership and distribution of rare books in Special Collections at the University of Auckland General Library

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jo Birks
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Historical Case Study ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Provenance Research ◽  
Rare Books ◽  
Book Collectors ◽  
The University ◽  
Purposive Sample

<p>The extent and research potential of provenance evidence in rare books in Special Collections at the University of Auckland General Library is largely uncharted territory. This project helps fill that gap by examining the provenance evidence, such as inscriptions, bookplates and stamps, in some of those rare books to identify any networks or patterns in their ownership history and distribution. A purposive sample of 291 pre-1851 volumes on New Zealand and Pacific-related travel and exploration was examined for provenance evidence within a qualitative framework and an historical case study design. Taking a subset of those books, which were bequeathed to the Library by Alfred Kidd (1851-1917), the project then examined other works from his bequest to further explore the scope of provenance evidence.  The project demonstrated the value of treating books as artefacts, exposing a wealth of provenance evidence and providing snapshots of the ownership and distribution histories of some volumes. Overall, 71 percent of the sample contained evidence for identifiable agents: 88 former owners, 14 booksellers, one auction house and nine book binders. The project also discussed lesser-known New Zealand book collectors who merit further study, including Alfred Kidd, Sir George Fowlds, Arthur Chappell and Allan North. Further provenance research into this collection and the provenance-related cataloguing practices in New Zealand libraries would generate additional useful insights.</p>

Measuring the academic library

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 109-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Salisbury ◽  
Jennifer Peasley
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Outcomes ◽  
Service Data ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an Australian perspective of impact and value by examining how the broader international and national perspectives play out in practice in the Australian context and where adaption for local requirements is necessary. Design/methodology/approach This paper will explore the assessment of impact and value in academic libraries and the tools available to translate today’s inputs into future impact and value. It will focus on a range of methods and procedures, including international and national standards, frameworks and benchmarks. Findings The La Trobe University Library is presented as a case study to examine the challenges of leveraging tools to assess impact and communicate the value of the library across the university community. Originality/value Assessing the impact and demonstrating the value of the academic library in a digital environment is a constant challenge. While usage and service data are plentiful, traditional metrics no longer sufficiently demonstrate the academic library’s contribution to university learning, teaching and research outcomes.

NZOA-ON: the New Zealand Ocean Acidification Observing Network

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Vance ◽  
K. I. Currie ◽  
C. S. Law ◽  
J. Murdoch ◽  
J. Zeldis
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Ocean Acidification ◽  
Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon ◽  
Total Alkalinity ◽  
Grass Roots ◽  
The Past ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
The University ◽  
Global Initiatives

A national observing network has been operating over the past 4 years to inform the scientific and economic challenges of ocean acidification (OA) facing New Zealand. The New Zealand Ocean Acidification Observing Network (NZOA-ON) consists of 12 sites across varied coastal ecosystems. These ecosystems range from oligotrophic ocean-dominated systems to eutrophic river-dominated systems, with sites that are pristine or affected by agriculture and urbanisation. Fortnightly measurements of total alkalinity and dissolved inorganic carbon provide the baseline of carbonate chemistry in these varied ecosystems and will facilitate detection of future changes, as well as providing a present-day baseline. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and the University of Otago have developed a ‘grass-roots’ sampling program, providing training and equipment that enable sampling partners to collect field samples for analyses at a central laboratory. NZOA-ON leverages existing infrastructure and partnerships to maximise data captured for understanding the drivers of chemical changes associated with OA and ecological responses. NZOA-ON coordinates with and contributes to global initiatives to understand and mitigate the broader impacts of OA. A description of NZOA-ON is presented with preliminary analyses and comparison of data from different sites after the first 4 years of the network.

scholarly journals Enhancing higher education curricula: A case study from the University of Waikato, New Zealand

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Longhurst ◽  
Alister Jones
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Curriculum Change ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Auto Ethnography ◽  
The University

In 2014, the University of Waikato launched the Curriculum Enhancement Programme (CEP). As the leaders of this programme we have used auto-ethnography to reflect critically on our experience. Throughout the course of the CEP some things have gone well; others, in hindsight, have not gone so well and in retrospect we would have done them differently. This includes using more channels of communication, more frequently, especially with staff; getting all of Waikato's faculties to pull together more effectively as one institution; and working harder to increase students' opportunities for interdisciplinarity in teaching and research. These lessons, we hope, will be helpful for others also embarking on wide-scale curriculum change.

scholarly journals On Being Original

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ray Stoneham
Keyword(s):  
Authentic Assessment ◽  
Comprehensive Strategy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mathematical Sciences ◽  
The University

This case study evaluates a range of techniques that have been used over the past ten years in a variety of contexts to attempt to address the issue of plagiarism by students in the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Greenwich.  The importance of plagiarism prevention in ensuring authentic assessment is emphasised, and the barriers to implementing a comprehensive strategy are highlighted. 

scholarly journals Nautical Symbolism in Christian Maori Architecture

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Pamela Radburnd
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Architectural Design ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
Middle Ground ◽  
Cultural Traditions ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
The Past ◽  
Cosmological Beliefs ◽  
The Individual

<p><b>It is well known that many Maori cultural traditions and cosmological beliefs are anchored in a sea of knowledge associated with seafaring, navigation and the oceanic environment. Despite the loss of deep-sea voyaging, this thesis explores how nautical reflexes were still very influential on various modes of expression in Christian Maori architecture of three distinct Maori religious movements from the colonial and post-colonial periods. During this investigation, this thesis also identifies a relationship that can be found between the appropriation of nautical symbolism in Christian and Maori architecture.</b></p> <p>This relationship is examined on two levels: One, in terms of how Christian and Maori iconography has latent nautical meaning and secondly, how nautical symbolism in Christian Maori architecture is more signal than sculptural. The latter identifies the more powerful, metaphysical symbols in Maori architecture and spirituality which make Christian Maori architecture uniquely different from European Christian architecture. This thesis links these qualities in symbolic Christian maori architecture to the psychic and symbolic territories known to the navigator. In doing so, this thesis discovers how nautical symbols occupy a middle ground, an in-between area bridging the known with the unknown and examines their role as mediators between the present and the past; the individual and the collective.</p> <p>This thesis finally presents an architectural design which explores specific aspects of research. In doing so, the use of nautical symbolism and water-based pragmatism through architecture explores how such methods and expressions can influence and transform Western notions of knowledge or conventional notions of contemporary (terrestrial) architecture in New Zealand. To achieve this, nautical concepts from case study material are applied to a contemporary design project in order to open up architecture to its metaphysical dimension rather than focussing on the object (sculptural) that is frozen in time. As a result, this design also celebrates and revives the nautical instinct of Maori in terms of how it can offer new and meaningful ways to design architecture in oceania and New Zealand.</p>

scholarly journals Mapping the networks of ownership and distribution of rare books in Special Collections at the University of Auckland General Library

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jo Birks
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Historical Case Study ◽  
Historical Case ◽  
Special Collections ◽  
Provenance Research ◽  
Rare Books ◽  
Book Collectors ◽  
The University ◽  
Purposive Sample

<p>The extent and research potential of provenance evidence in rare books in Special Collections at the University of Auckland General Library is largely uncharted territory. This project helps fill that gap by examining the provenance evidence, such as inscriptions, bookplates and stamps, in some of those rare books to identify any networks or patterns in their ownership history and distribution. A purposive sample of 291 pre-1851 volumes on New Zealand and Pacific-related travel and exploration was examined for provenance evidence within a qualitative framework and an historical case study design. Taking a subset of those books, which were bequeathed to the Library by Alfred Kidd (1851-1917), the project then examined other works from his bequest to further explore the scope of provenance evidence.  The project demonstrated the value of treating books as artefacts, exposing a wealth of provenance evidence and providing snapshots of the ownership and distribution histories of some volumes. Overall, 71 percent of the sample contained evidence for identifiable agents: 88 former owners, 14 booksellers, one auction house and nine book binders. The project also discussed lesser-known New Zealand book collectors who merit further study, including Alfred Kidd, Sir George Fowlds, Arthur Chappell and Allan North. Further provenance research into this collection and the provenance-related cataloguing practices in New Zealand libraries would generate additional useful insights.</p>

scholarly journals Beyond Virtual Replicas: 3D Modeling and Maltese Prehistoric Architecture

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo Stanco ◽  
Davide Tanasi
Keyword(s):  
3D Models ◽  
The Public ◽  
Virtual Archaeology ◽  
The Past ◽  
Innovative Methodology ◽  
Virtual Reconstruction ◽  
Scientific Results ◽  
Visual Description ◽  
The University

In the past decade, computer graphics have become strategic for the development of projects aimed at the interpretation of archaeological evidence and the dissemination of scientific results to the public. Among all the solutions available, the use of 3D models is particularly relevant for the reconstruction of poorly preserved sites and monuments destroyed by natural causes or human actions. These digital replicas are, at the same time, a virtual environment that can be used as a tool for the interpretative hypotheses of archaeologists and as an effective medium for a visual description of the cultural heritage. In this paper, the innovative methodology and aims and outcomes of a virtual reconstruction of the Borg in-Nadur megalithic temple, carried out by Archeomatica Project of the University of Catania, are offered as a case study for a virtual archaeology of prehistoric Malta.

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