Abstract
This paper examines the extent to which Neoliberalism features in undergraduate prospectuses of UK universities, using Michel Foucault’s lectures at the Collège de France, and subsequent writers on Neoliberalism, as an analytical lens. Prospectuses convey an impression of the outcomes students might gain; the specific research question is, ‘To what extent do the prospectuses of UK universities espouse neoliberal values for their prospective students?’ In total, 122 prospectuses form the research sample. Only the non-programme-specific contents of the prospectuses are analysed. Word frequency counts are used, supported by content analysis. The data are segmented, using league tables and treating the Russell Group of universities as a distinct category. The study shows how prospectuses articulate higher education as a means of gaining advantage in labour markets. The study also shows how different types of universities use neoliberal terms in nuanced ways, suggesting universities orient their students towards specific and stratified employment opportunities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 779-794 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Cambridge Journal of Education |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Sept 2024 |
Keywords
- Foucault, Michel
- Neoliberalism
- Higher education
- United Kingdom
- prospectus
