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Symposium

Student Politics in Contemporary Higher Education: Theory, Policy and Practice

 14th September 2017, College of St. Hild & St. Bede, Durham University

Over the last few years, there has been a heated debate over higher education governance, funding and organisation in England, resulting in recently approved Higher Education and Research Act 2017. While scholarly debate has mostly focused on the perspectives of academic communities, senior managers and policy makers, this symposium aims to shift the focus to student unions and their role in higher education politics and the sector more widely. The symposium explores the ways in which student unions have engaged with higher education politics and policies over the recent years and the contradictory space they occupy. Taking a sociological perspective, the symposium also discusses the importance of social theory in exploring politics of higher education. Speakers and presentations:

Social Theory and the Politics of Higher Education

Dr Mark Murphy, Reader in Education & Public Policy, University of Glasgow

The Changing Role of Students’ Unions within Contemporary Higher Education

Prof Rachel Brooks, Professor of Sociology, University of Surrey

Students’ Unions and Consumerist Policy Discourses in English Higher Education: An Exploration of Contradictions

Dr Rille Raaper, Assistant Professor in Education, Durham University.

Further information and programme are available at: https://www.dur.ac.uk/education/events/?eventno=34735

Space is limited, please register early. If you wish to book a place at this free event or have any questions about the event, please contact Dr Rille Raaper, rille.raaper@durham.ac.uk