Regulatory governance of ‘training markets’, ‘market failure’, and ‘quasi’ markets: historical dimensions of the post-initial training market in the Netherlands

This article examines regulatory governance of the post-initial training market in The Netherlands. From an historical perspective on policy formation processes, it examines market formation in terms of social, economic, and cultural factors in the development of provision and demand for post-initial training; the roles of stakeholders in the longterm construction of regulatory governance of the market; regulation of and public providers; policy responses to market failure; and tripartite division of responsibilities between the state, social partners, commercial and publicly-funded providers. Historical description and analysis examine policy narratives of key stakeholders with reference to: a) influence of societal stakeholders on regulatory decision-making; b) state regulation of the post-initial training market; c) public intervention regulating the market to prevent market failure; d) market deregulation, competition, employability and individual responsibility; and, e) regulatory governance to prevent ‘allocative failure’ by the market in non-delivery of post-initial training to specific target groups, particularly the low-qualified. Dominant policy narratives have resulted in limited state regulation of the supply-side, a tripartite system of regulatory governance by the state, social partners and commercial providers as regulatory actors. Current policy discourses address interventions on the demand-side to redistribute structures of opportunity throughout the life courses of individuals. Further empirical research from a comparative historical perspective is required to deepen contemporary understandings of regulatory governance of markets and the commodification of adult learning in knowledge societies and information economies. (DIPF/Orig.)

Marketising Slovene adult education policies and practices using mechanisms of the Europeanisation of education

This article addresses the issue of marketisation in the field of adult education by reflecting on the Europeanisation of education currently taking place through the establishment of European adult education policies. The article argues that Europeanisation fosters marketisation of adult education and commodifies valuable knowledge and desirable forms of neoliberal subjectivity. An analysis of Slovene adult education policies from 2004-2015 reveals how a European economised vocabulary is being implemented in Slovene adult education policies and practices. The main argument of this article is that these practices are shaped through financial mechanisms that marketise the adult education field. This results in new relationships between governing bodies within the field, the unstable and decreasing role of public adult education institutions and the prevailing role of private providers of adult education, who offer training programmes to meet labour market needs. (DIPF/Orig.)

Editorial. Marketization and commodification of adult education

The editorial presents the articles of this issue on the topic of marketization and commodification of adult education of which some are conceptual and some empirical. (DIPF/Orig.)

The interaction of economic and pedagogical ideals in the context of workplace learning in Germany: a framework for empirical research – inspired by business ethics

As an effect of marketisation, the importance of workplace learning in Germany has increased. The article follows up on the long-standing discourse around the question of how economic and pedagogical ideals interact in this context. In order to develop a theoretical framework for empirical research, three major positions of the discipline of business ethics are introduced. Business ethics in more abstract ways deals with the very same question, namely how do ideas such as profit orientation interact with other norms and values? The new perspectives show that the discourse has been hitherto based on a specific understanding of economy. In order to derive an empirical answer to the research question, the question is re-formulated as follows: Which values are inherent in the decisions taken? Consequently, it suggests using the concept of ‘rationalities of justification’ for empirical research. The article shows how this concept can be applied by conducting a test run. (DIPF/Orig.)

The murky waters of neoliberal marketization and commodification on the education of adults in the United States

We approach marketization and commodification of adult education from multiple lenses including our personal narratives and neoliberalism juxtaposed against the educational philosophy of the Progressive Period. We argue that adult education occurs in many arenas including the public spaces found in social movements, community-based organizations, and government sponsored programs designed to engage and give voice to all citizens toward building a stronger civil society. We conclude that only when adult education is viewed from the university lens, where it focuses on the individual and not the public good, does it succumb to neoliberal forces. (DIPF/Orig.)

Martin Rothland (Hrsg.): Belastung und Beanspruchung im Lehrerberuf. Modelle, Befunde, Interventionen 2. überarbeitete Auflage. Wiesbaden: Springer VS 2013 (286 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Martin Rothland (Hrsg.): Belastung und Beanspruchung im Lehrerberuf. Modelle, Befunde, Interventionen 2. überarbeitete Auflage. Wiesbaden: Springer VS 2013 (286 S.; ISBN 978-3-5311-8246-9)

Peter Faulstich: Menschliches Lernen. Eine kritisch-pragmatistische Lerntheorie. Bielefeld: transcript 2013 (232 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Peter Faulstich: Menschliches Lernen. Eine kritisch-pragmatistische Lerntheorie. Bielefeld: transcript 2013 (232 S.; ISBN 978-3-8376-2425-0)

Christian Niemeyer: Nietzsche verstehen. Eine Gebrauchsanweisung. Darmstadt: Lambert Schneider 2011 (240 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Christian Niemeyer: Nietzsche verstehen. Eine Gebrauchsanweisung. Darmstadt: Lambert Schneider 2011 (240 S.; ISBN 978-3-650-23823-8)

Martin Baethge / Eckart Severing / Reinhold Weiß: Handlungsstrategien für die berufliche Weiterbildung. Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag 2013 (120 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Martin Baethge / Eckart Severing / Reinhold Weiß: Handlungsstrategien für die berufliche Weiterbildung. Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag 2013 (120 S.; ISBN 978-3-7639-1159-2)

Helmut Bremer / Mark Kleemann-Göhring / Christel Teiwes-Kügler / Jana Trumann (Hrsg.): Politische Bildung zwischen Politisierung, Partizipation und politischem Lernen. Beiträge für eine soziologische Perspektive. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa 2013 (341 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Helmut Bremer / Mark Kleemann-Göhring / Christel Teiwes-Kügler / Jana Trumann (Hrsg.): Politische Bildung zwischen Politisierung, Partizipation und politischem Lernen. Beiträge für eine soziologische Perspektive. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa 2013 (341 S.; ISBN 978-3-7799-1589-8)

Mind the gap! An exploration of the role of lifelong learning in promoting co-production and citizenship within social care for older people

Contemporary themes in public policy have emphasised co-productive approaches within both the access and provision of support services to older people. This paper provides a cross disciplinary exploration from its respective authors perspectives on social work and educational gerontology to examine the potential for lifelong learning and learning interventions from which co-production with those using social care services in later life might be better facilitated. Using an example from the UK, we specifically elicit how co-produced care can enhance the horizon of learning and learning research. The synthesis of ideas across these two disciplines could enrich understanding and provide essential levers for moving towards empowerment and emancipation by engaging with a more co-productive approach in social care for older people. (DIPF/Orig.)

Herbert Loebe / Eckart Severing (Hrsg.): Qualifizierungsberatung in KMU. Förderung systematischer Personalentwicklung. Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag 2012 (294 S.) [Rezension]

Rezension von: Herbert Loebe / Eckart Severing (Hrsg.): Qualifizierungsberatung in KMU. Förderung systematischer Personalentwicklung. Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag 2012 (294 S.; ISBN 978-3-7639-3609-0)