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Abstract
Changes in tertiary education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand in the last decade have impacted on adult and community education (ACE). Marginalized and understood as non-formal education at the turn of the century, ACE is now part of the ‘tertiary landscape’. It is explicitly steered by education policy, its role severely narrowed, its emphasis shifted from empowerment, equity, active citizenship to preparation for employment and skills for work. This article explores the policy developments which have led to the changes and analyses possible links between the policies and three neoliberal suppositions: free market economics, the role of the state and homo economicus. It concludes that policies have been influenced by a neoliberal hegemony under both Centre-left Labour-led and Centre-right National-led governments, and that neoliberalism is likely to remain dominant into the future.
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Linda Leach
Linda Leach is a senior lecturer in the Institute of Education at Massey University. Her teaching and research interests are closely associated with adult education and tertiary teaching. She teaches in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Recent research projects have included student retention, student engagement, assessment, adult literacy and numeracy, and foundation education.