Government Policy and Postsecondary Education in Alberta: A ‘Field Theory’ Analysis

Authors

  • David Schmaus Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
  • Randolph Wimmer University of Alberta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v59i1.55697

Keywords:

postsecondary/higher education, postsecondary educational policy, Pierre Bourdieu, postsecondary education governance, Field Theory analysis

Abstract

While the landscape of postsecondary education in Alberta continues to expand and diversify, there seems to be very little written about the organization of postsecondary education in the province over the past 15 to 20 years (Wimmer & Schmaus, 2010). This paper provides an analysis of postsecondary education in Alberta over the past 15 to 20 years using social theory, specifically “thinking tools” (Grenfell & James, 2004) provided in Bourdieu’s Field Theory to reveal power struggles in the system. Government policies that drive postsecondary institutions to struggle for position in market-like conditions while tightly controlling the parameters of that market are explored. We discuss the role government policy plays in the reproduction of power structures and their distribution of capital in the province of Alberta.

Alors que l’éducation postsecondaire en Alberta continue à s’étendre et à se diversifier, on a très peu écrit sur son organisation dans les 15 ou 20 dernières années (Wimmer & Schmaus, 2010). Cet article analyse l’éducation postsecondaire en Alberta dans les 15 ou 20 dernières années par le biais de la théorie sociale, notamment les outils de pensée (Grenfell & James, 2004) de la théorie des champs de Bourdieu, de sorte à dévoiler les luttes pour le pouvoir au sein du système. Nous nous penchons sur les politiques gouvernementales qui poussent les établissements postsecondaires à se battre pour leur position dans des conditions qui ressemblent à celles du marché tout en contrôlant strictement les paramètres de ce marché. Nous discutons le rôle des politiques gouvernementales dans la reproduction des structures du pouvoir et leur répartition du capital aux établissements postsecondaires en Alberta.

Author Biographies

David Schmaus, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

David Schmaus is an Associate Chair in the Bachelor of Technology in Technology Management program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), and PhD candidate in Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta. His research interests include educational policy in Canada, global citizenship education, cosmopolitanism, and ethics education in postsecondary settings.

Randolph Wimmer, University of Alberta

Dr Randolph (Randy) Wimmer is an Associate Professor of Postsecondary Educational Administration and Leadership in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Alberta. He has also held a number of administrative appointments and is currently serving as Vice Dean of Education. Randy teaches in the areas of postsecondary organization, governance, and administration and his research is in teacher education, learning about the experiences of Aboriginal people in higher education and their transitions to teaching.

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Published

2013-12-15

How to Cite

Schmaus, D., & Wimmer, R. (2013). Government Policy and Postsecondary Education in Alberta: A ‘Field Theory’ Analysis. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 59(1), 92–107. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v59i1.55697

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 1 (2013): Spring

Section

ARTICLES

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