‘Edugration’ as a Wicked Problem
Lisa Brunner
PhD Candidate – UBC Educational 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 destination countries – the retention of international students as permanent residents is often painted as a different ‘triple win’: (1) students gain a ‘valuable’ education and ‘desirable’ citizenship on the global market; (2) higher education institutions gains revenue, labour, and ‘diversity;’ and (3) (primarily Global North) states gain human capital, tax revenue, population growth, and soft power. Yet this ‘triple win’ framing ignores the system’s larger replications of privilege and power, invisiblizing externalized losses and problematic enablements – such as the dominance of a hierarchical global imaginary rooted in Western supremacy which dictates the very desirability of its education (Stein & Andreotti, 2016).
In this talk, I discuss two points. First, I introduce the term ‘edugration’ (an amalgamation of ‘education’ and ‘migration’), arguing that the growing retention of international students as ‘skilled’ migrants globally is in fact a distinct form of ‘two-step’ immigration with three steps and is shifting the role of higher education in society. Second, using Canada as an example, I suggest that edugration presents an ethically ‘wicked problem’ (Rittel & Webber, 1973) and think through the concept of complicity – e.g. of individuals and institutions – from the perspective of someone personally, professionally and academically involved in the system itself.
[ Bio ]
Lisa Brunner is a PhD candidate in Educational Studies at UBC, an International Student Advisor, and a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant. Her current research focuses on the intersection of mobility and education, specifically the internationalization of Canadian higher education and international student (im)migration. Previously, Lisa researched the settlement experiences of government-assisted refugees in Metro Vancouver (with Immigrant Services Society of BC) and in the USA (with the Center 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 from the University of Pittsburgh.
[ About the Migration Grad Student Power Hour ]
The Centre for Migration Studies Grad Student Power Hour provides opportunities for UBC graduate students to share their research on migration beyond their home departments and network with faculty and students from across the university and in the broader community sector. The Power Hour will begin with 10 minutes of networking opportunities, followed by a 30 minute talk and 20 minutes for discussion. Anyone is welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you there!
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