Understanding windows for global policy: an examination of the Free-Semester Program in Korea

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the timing for a global education reform to be adopted locally. Drawing on the Multiple Streams Approach while expanding it with a transnational dimension, the Free-Semester Program in Korea is used to examine the convergence of the streams of problem, policy, and politics. An analysis of policy documents, media accounts, and political events reveals that such global indicators as well-being indices and international large-scale assessments were instrumental for creating problem awareness. In the policy stream, policy actors in Korea reframed locally present policy ideas using the language of global competency. Finally, skilled policy entrepreneurs, including academics and policy experts from the camp of a 2012 presidential candidate, proactively coupled problem and policy streams to obtain political legitimacy beyond partisanship. This study shows that, in an era of globalisation, the role of policy entrepreneurs as ‘intermediaries’ who assemble, package, and translate travelling policy ideas has become more indispensable.

KEYWORDS:

• Free-Semester Program
• multiple streams approach
• policy windows
• Korean education
• policy change

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.