'Edugration' as a Wicked Problem
Lisa Brunner
PhD Candidate - UBC Educat
ional Studies
May 28\, 2021 | 12-1 pm
[ Abstract ]
In contrast to the United Nations’ (2006) supposed ‘triple win ’ – where migration benefits migrants\, countries of origin\, and destinati on countries – the retention of international students as permanent residen ts is often painted as a different ‘triple win’: (1) students gain a ‘valua ble’ education and ‘desirable’ citizenship on the global market\; (2) highe r education institutions gains revenue\, labour\, and ‘diversity\;’ and (3) (primarily Global North) states gain human capital\, tax revenue\, populat ion growth\, and soft power. Yet this ‘triple win’ framing ignores the syst em’s larger replications of privilege and power\, invisiblizing externalize d losses and problematic enablements – such as the dominance of a hierarchi cal global imaginary rooted in Western supremacy which dictates the very de sirability of its education (Stein & Andreotti\, 2016).
In this talk\ , I discuss two points. First\, I introduce the term 'edugration' (an amalg amation of ‘education’ and ‘migration’)\, arguing that the growing retentio n of international students as ‘skilled’ migrants globally is in fact a dis tinct form of 'two-step' immigration with three steps and is shifting the r ole of higher education in society. Second\, using Canada as an example\, I suggest that edugration presents an ethically 'wicked problem' (Rittel & W ebber\, 1973) and think through the concept of complicity – e.g. of individ uals and institutions – from the perspective of someone personally\, profes sionally and academically involved in the system itself.
[ Bi
o ]
Lisa Brunner is a PhD candidate in Educational Studies at
UBC\, an International Student Advisor\, and a Regulated Canadian Immigrat
ion Consultant. Her current research focuses on the intersection of mobilit
y and education\, specifically the internationalization of Canadian higher
education and international student (im)migration. Previously\, Lisa resear
ched the settlement experiences of government-assisted refugees in Metro Va
ncouver (with Immigrant Services Society of BC) and in the USA (with the Ce
nter for Applied Linguistics in Washington\, DC). She also has professional
experience developing cultural orientation training materials and teaching
English as an additional language. She holds an MA in Geography from Simon
Fraser University and a BA in Political Science and English Literature fro
m the University of Pittsburgh.
[ About the Migration Grad St
udent Power Hour ]
The Centre for Migration Studies Grad
Student Power Hour provides opportunities for UBC graduate students to shar
e their research on migration beyond their home departments and network wit
h faculty and students from across the university and in the broader commun
ity sector. The Power Hour will begin with 10 minutes of networking opportu
nities\, followed by a 30 minute talk and 20 minutes for discussion. Anyone
is welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!