Consultants and Consultancy: the Case of Education

Viac o knihe

This book offers an in-depth examination of consultants and their influence in generating concerns about a rising ‘consultocracy’ with privileged access to governments and public services. It maps consultancy in education as a dynamic site for change and modernization in public sector service provision, analyzing it on macro, meso, and micro levels. The surge of ‘edubusinesses’ and the restructuring of public services in Western democracies have introduced new ‘knowledge actors’ in education policy. Key developments include the entry of major company consultants into the public education market, the rise of ‘celebrity’ entrepreneurial figures making interventions in universities and schools, and the growth of small businesses formed by individuals transitioning from the public to the private sector. These knowledge actors and their complexities remain underexplored and largely un-theorized. Drawing on current research and various theoretical frameworks, the authors address this gap, contributing significantly to the scholarship on the neoliberal restructuring of public education. They analyze the crucial role of corporate education consultants in shaping knowledge practices and radical reform agendas in schools globally. This accessible volume is essential for scholars and anyone concerned about defending public education against increasing privatization.