UV9923H1 – Travelling reforms, policy processes and international knowledge transfer

Course content

Organizer: The course is organized in collaboration with the POLNET project and the research group Curriculum Studies, Leadership and Educational Governance (CLEG).

Course leader: Gita Steiner-Khamsi, TC Columbia University, USA / University of Oslo

Guest lecturers: Christian Ydesen, Aalborg University, Íris Santos, Tampere University

The course guides doctoral students in their endeavor to review, apply, and critically reflect on relevant theories and methods that lend themselves for understanding the policy process from an international comparative perspective. A special focus will be placed on the comparative study of global education policies, in particular, on the reception and translation of such "traveling reforms," the role of international comparison for global norm setting, and the growing influence of multinational businesses and philanthropies in shaping educational reform.  Even though the examples deal mostly with education policies, most of the theories, methods and emerging issues, discussed in the course, may be useful for public policy studies in general.

The course mainly consists of two types of activities. The first is devoted to lectures on theories, methods, existing literature, and current issues that help us understand, investigate, and explain how knowledge is utilized and transfers across countries, institutions, and systems. The second includes group sessions in which participants present and discuss their projects, applying the topics covered in the lectures.

Prior to the course, each participant will submit two-page summary/proposal of their research interest or project related to the topic of knowledge utilization and transfer. Participants will have an opportunity to share their projects and receive feedback from peers and the instructors during the discussion sessions.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the students will be able to:

• develop an in-depth understanding of core concepts of influential strands of social theory on travelling reforms and show how the same phenomenon may be interpreted differently, depending on which theoretical framework one has chosen
• gain insights into inquiries that are especially suited for conducting comparative policy studies
• apply and critically reflect on relevant theories and methods to identify various types of policy actors (e.g. policy brokers, policy entrepreneurs, policy translators) and examine how policy networks evolve

Admission to the course

PhD candidates at the Faculty of Educational Sciences will be given priority, but it is also possible for others to apply for the course. Applicants must have at least a Master's degree.

Candidates admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Educational Sciences should apply through Studentweb 

Other applicants may apply using this application form 

The course registration opens June 1, 2023.

Registration deadline: October 23, 2023 / extended until November 10, 2023.

If you have questions concerning admission, please contact Olga Mukhina.

Teaching

Research seminar and public lectures. This is an intensive course over two days, comprising a total of 14 hours.

You will find the timetable and the reading list on the semester webpage for this course.

Examination

3 credit points for course participation (80% attendance is required), presentation, and submission of two writings. Students should submit:

• two-page summary or proposal of a research project that is relevant to the course topic

• final paper (3000 words, excluding references). 

More details on each assignment will be provided.

Papers are to be submitted electronically in Canvas.

Submission deadlines:

• summary/proposal of a research project: November 20, 2023

• final paper: January 5, 2024

Language of examination

English

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.