Local Vision for a Globally Responsible Education Future - Essay Example

Local Vision for a globally responsible education future Name Institution Date Local Vision for a globally responsible education future The concept of globalization has presented the world with numerous opportunities in the field of education [Afr]. Globalization has increased the flow of knowledge in many parts of the world, and many countries are linking with others as a strategy of elevating education systems. The same has been the case for Saudi Arabia where education systems have accepted the inputs of globalization. The main reason for these changes is the need to create a local vision that creates an environment for conducting responsible education for future. Several global concepts have the ability enhance this vision for the case of Saudi Arabia. The global concepts include information age, technological determinism, net generation and neo-liberalism. A future can be created from these concepts, which can enhance the local education and future vision. This paper will delve into these four global concepts and their effects in as far as local vision and globally responsible education are concerned. The information age The information age can be described as a period in which changes all over the world have been characterized by an advance in information technology with computer use taking center stage [Mar08]. The flow of information has been computerized and the internet has been identified as a useful resource in the information age. Globalization thrives under this increased flow of information basing on the fact that the globe has virtually been converted into a village. The digital age has been identified as both an opportunity and a risk for the present and future generations. Many benefits can be derived from the digital age since various sectors such as the economics, education and politics are affected by the information age [Ope09]. Businesses around the world run efficiently due to the presence of e-commerce that facilitates movement of business information including payment. Leaders from different parts of the world can attend a meeting without traveling due to the presence of online conferences. In education, students and teachers can engage in lessons without attending physical classes due to the opportunities presented by e-learning. The social media has presented the world with a platform for enhancing social interaction through which many activities can be realized. Libraries can be accessed on the internet a factor that has reduced space for books as well as time for searching. As mentioned before, the information age has bot advantages and disadvantages that are faced around the globe [CJa09]. Advantages have already been mentioned but still the areas that benefit from the information age are also at risk of facing the disadvantages. In the field of education, the online classes have been found to have a negative social influence on learners. Learners fail to grasp the basic skills needed for face to face communication. The information age also has paved the way for a lot of information to be accessed with minimal restrictions. Some explicit information may have adverse social impacts to the learners as well as the entire society. Important cultural norms around the world have been eroded by the influences of the information age. Because the advancement in the technology makes access an easy task both regarding cost and gadgets, many people have access. In Saudi Arabia, the information age has been embraced since the current world cannot do without it. From the government, businesses the education sector, the information age has presented many opportunities. Education has been made more interactive as knowledge from other parts of the world has become easy to access. The use of the computer in learning institutions has been prioritized as Saudi Arabia aims to move along with the technological world. It is evident that Saudi Arabia can invest in education and contribute the creation of the vision needed for globally responsible education. The state authorities mandated with the role of overseeing education, communication, and information technology have to work together in the establishment of systems and policies. These parties should engage all stakeholders in research and development to establish the best approaches of benefiting from the information age without eroding the cultural norms. Through this approach, a clear vision can be created which will harness the benefits availed by the information age while at the same time contributing to responsible education in the future. To achieve these, all stakeholders must acknowledge the fact that the information age comes along with opportunities as well as challenges. The opportunities have to be nurtured while the challenges addressed. Net generation The net generation refers to the generation that lives during the time that internet use and access is rampant. In the past, internet and its capabilities had not greatly developed but after the 2000 panic, the Internet age took the full stage. Many things have developed due to the capabilities provided by the internet technology. In as far as globalization is concerned, the net generation has taken the concept to a whole new level. There is increased interaction of people living in the net generation, and all this is enabled by the internet as well as the worldwide web technologies. The same sentiments have been echoed in the ‘Castel and Information age.’ The global economy is constantly being dictated by the information technologies that characterize the net generation. According to Castell the information age is characterized by many networks that allow people to switch from one network to another depending on the needs. For instance, people may switch from networks that support social media to business networks or education networks. The statement proves that the net generation has to glut remote access to a wide range of information. Around the globe, the information age has been responsible for the elimination of certain careers such as postal services [Glo1]. A critical case can be identified in the US postal corporation where individuals have opted for electronic versions rather than the paper version. The information age has significantly increased creativity in most parts of the world. However, Castel highlighted the vulnerability in the technological as well as the economic systems in the net generation. In as far as education is concerned, the net generation has to invest in technology by taking advantages of the opportunities provided in the net generation. Freedom House (2011) has been established that the government of Saudi Arabia is committed to supporting the use and access of the internet technology as preferred by the net generation. Statistics has proven that internet use among the Saudi Arabian youths is higher than the use by the people of advanced age. The senior citizens in Saudi Arabia have been identified as to have a deficiency in technological literacy. Saudi Arabia has allowed penetration of internet technologies that include all gadgets that enable access to the internet. The net generation has ensured that Arabic content is adequately available on the internet, which makes it easy for internet technologies to penetrate in Arabic states such as Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has to enhance technological literacy as this will help in the expanding the benefits accrued from the net generation. Technological literacy also helps in the identification of opportunities within the information age. Technological literacy enables students to develop a vision for globally sustainable education. Sustainable education, in this case, refers to the education system that adapts to global changes and advancements. Saudi Arabia has to put in place systems that encourage the use of the net in various activities such as education, business, and governance. The net local infrastructure supporting education should help students link with the international systems. Technological determinism Technological determinism is a theory that claims the technology has both positive and negative influence, which influence social as well as cultural changes. Technology is a powerful tool that certainly changes people’s approaches to handling various tasks. Technology has revolutionized the concept of globalization by increasing interaction, communication and movement of people, products and culture. Even without physical movement of people, technology has proved that culture can be transmitted remotely. According to Powell and Steel (2011), globalization increases the chances of eroding cultures and social structures of people in various places. As people interact, they tend to give out some of their cultural aspects and also receive foreign cultural aspects. As a result, cultural erosion is inevitable when globalization is increased. As mentioned, technology enhances globalization, which means that technological determinism theory creates a lot of sense. Some of the changes evident are in the forms of ethnoscapes, mediascapes, technoscapes, finanscapes and ideoscapes. It is important to note that technological determinism refers to both positive and negative impacts due to technology. In Saudi Arabia, technological determinism is inevitable since the country has embraced most internet based technologies. However, the country has come out strongly to control the negative effects of technological determinism [Ope09]. It is believed that Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Muslim’s prophet, Muhammad thus the strict rules have been established to protect the Arabic identity. To achieve this, Saudi Arabia has put in place measures for internet filtering to prevent certain content from being accessed in Saudi Arabia. Materials filtered include sensitive political information, explicit social information, security details and other internet tools. On the positive side of technology, Saudi Arabia has launched its satellites with the aim of transmitting Arabic content. ICT has been found to play significant roles in Saudi Arabia especially when it comes to governance. Today, many areas government operations in Saudi Arabia may come to a standstill in case ICT was overlooked. Saudi Arabia has a beautiful culture that has been preserved for many years and efforts to continue preserving this culture can enhance local vision that can enhance global education. To protect the culture and people of Saudi Arabia from the negative influences of technological determinism, legal and regulatory framework has to be strengthened. The measures should ensure that there is free distribution of relevant content in Saudi Arabia while eliminating possibilities of destructive content on the internet. Monitoring of internet activities has been a common trend in most Arabic countries with the aim of protecting police interests. However, the shift should move from monitoring political activities to monitoring education, culture and encouraging socially constructive activities. Over-protecting political interests may prevent presentation of public opinions that can be constructive. In enhancing local vision in the field of education the younger generation should be targeted more than the old since it is the younger generation with more access to the internet technologies. Education systems in Saudi Arabia must also adopt the technological aspects that aim at improving the education standards that meet the global demands. Neoliberalism Neoliberalism refers to form of liberalization that includes economic liberalization characterized freedoms in market competition, industry deregulation, agreements involving free trade, governments privatizing their services and individualism [Afr]. Most markets in the modern world are liberalized and the process has been facilitated by technological evolution. Technology has helped in eliminating local, regional and international boundaries. Neo-liberalization around the world has also been characterized by emergent government form with new policies that focus on mechanisms of the market, competition, elimination of government assistance and paving the way for consumer choices. In liberalization, governments do not help specific individuals in doing business but rather provide an open environment for participation. In the corporate world, neo-liberalization has paved the way for corporatization that allows the corporate world to run on values and cultures. The aspect of neoliberalism is not only confined to the business world but is also evident in education. In education, a neoliberal education policy discourse can be established, which contributes to realistic education reforms. Emphasis has been placed on critical aspects such as ethics, accountability, professionalism and performance. In Australia, the national policy agenda in the field of education has paved the way for the creation of an effective national policy. The national policy aims to trigger national response to the universal needs of education around the globe. This is to say that the policy encourages alignment of local education systems for a globally responsible education in futures. The policy in Australia also led to the development of a national curriculum aimed at standardizing education system in the country. The Saudi Arabian government cannot be considered as a neoliberal form of government even when certain aspects may seem to suggest so [Tar13]. Neo-liberalism is characterized by freedom and it is this aspect of freedom that nullifies the Saudi Arabian government as a liberal government. Neoliberalism has to be treated in a holistic approach which is not the case in Saudi Arabia. There is a need for the Saudi Arabian authorities to accept the calls for neoliberalism, especially in the education sector as this will contribute to the development of mindset and creativity. Neoliberalism presents excellent opportunities for developing changes in education systems in Saudi Arabia. However, changes may only be raised if the aspect of neoliberalism is fully accepted in Saudi Arabia. To create a local vision in education, the government has to revise some of the policies that prevent neo-liberalization. Educational curriculum of Saudi Arabia should be developed in such a way that it presents learners with content applicable in most parts of the world. Therefore, the first step in conducting reforms is to revise the education policies as well as curriculum. For instance, girl child education in all should be accepted with no strict prescriptions on courses about gender. References Elyas, T., & Al-Sadi, A. (2013). Critiquing of Higher Education policy in Saudi Arabia: A Neoliberalism Approach. Retrieved from The Asian Conference on Language Learning 2013: Official Conference Proceedings 2013: http://iafor.org/archives/offprints/acll2013-offprints/ACLL2013_0029.pdf Freedom House. (2011). Saudi Arabia: Freedom on the Net 2011. Retrieved from Freedom House: https://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/inline_images/Saudi%20Arabia_FOTN2011.pdf Globalization, the Knowledge Economy, and Education. (n.d.). Retrieved from Opening the Doors of Learning. James, C., Davies, K., Flores, A., Francis, J., Pettingil, L., Rundle, M., et al. (2009). Young People, Ethics and New Digital Media: A Synthesis for the Good play Project. Retrieved from MIT Press. Kraidy, M. M. (2008). Youth, Media and Culture in the Arab World. Retrieved from International Handbook of Children, Media, and Culture, pp 330-344. Open Net Initiative. (2009). Internet Filtering in Saudi Arabia. Retrieved from https://opennet.net/sites/opennet.net/files/ONI_SaudiArabia_2009.pdf Powell, J., & Steel, R. (2011). 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