Globalisation and Higher Education: Education for Human Rights in a Globalized World

This book chapter examines the nexus between globalization, education and teaching human rights in schools. When we begin to consider education from the perspective of Human Rights, we can see current talk of education is rife with issues of power and access. Such a perspective can best be examined if we ask ourselves the simple question; What is the goal of education? Answers to this question reveals, broadly speaking, the status of the respondent. In a real sense we can see the ‘goal of education’ either as the maintaining privilege or as the means of accessing that privilege. I would argue, however, that this is the myth of meritocracy (alternatively called the ‘Australian/American Dream’, or other country depending on your context).