| Title: |
Analysing the Accreditation of Engineering Education in South Africa through Foucault's Panopticon and Governmentality Lenses |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Mutereko, Sybert |
| Source: |
Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 2018 43(2):235-247. |
| Availability: |
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
13 |
| Publication Date: |
2018 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Higher Education |
| Descriptors: |
Foreign Countries; Engineering Education; Accreditation (Institutions); Power Structure; Quality Assurance; Educational Quality; Higher Education; Interviews; Content Analysis; College Faculty; Case Studies; Focus Groups |
| Geographic Terms: |
South Africa |
| DOI: |
10.1080/02602938.2017.1330395 |
| ISSN: |
0260-2938 |
| Abstract: |
Using Foucault's power concepts of the panopticon and governmentality as analytic and heuristic tools, this study reveals insights into how accreditation creates power networks in the quality assurance of higher education graduates in South Africa. The study draws on 11 in-depth interviews with academics from the Faculty of Engineering at a university of technology, and comprehensive documentary analysis, as the main sources of data to demonstrate that quality assurance is not neutral or apolitical, but legitimises the positions of those with power through accreditation. This study establishes that the Engineering Council of South Africa epitomises the centred power of a panopticon surveillance system through its various supervisory mechanisms, such as site visits. On the other hand, there is clear evidence of governmentality notions in which the locus of power has been decentralised and internalised in the governed by giving them autonomy and responsibilities in certain aspects of the engineering curriculum. This study has important theoretical and practical implications for the field of higher education and the circulation of professional qualifications. Caution must be taken to ensure that the curriculum is not narrowly centred on the interests of the powerful labour market but responsive to other societal and student needs. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Number of References: |
29 |
| Entry Date: |
2017 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1163093 |
| Database: |
ERIC |