Lifelong learning policies for vulnerable young adults in post-recession Scotland

Valiente, O. , Lowden, K. and Capsada-Munsech, Q. (2020) Lifelong learning policies for vulnerable young adults in post-recession Scotland. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 41(2), pp. 218-233. (doi: 10.1080/01425692.2019.1685937)

Abstract

This article shows how the Scottish Government’s (SG) political management of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has reinforced the economic goals of lifelong learning (LLL) under the skills for work agenda. Youth unemployment has been prioritized as the main social problem to be addressed, and most of the limited public resources for LLL have been targeted towards youth at risk of unemployment at the expense of the rest of the adult population. The article adopts a Cultural Political Economy perspective to examine LLL policy discourses contained in 12 policy documents published by the SG during the period between the Scottish National Party’s arrival in power and the Independence Referendum (2007–2014). The analysis draws attention to the fact that the GFC has been used by the SG to legitimize selective cuts to the further education sector as well as a stronger labour market orientation within LLL provision.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Valiente, Professor Oscar and Lowden, Mr Kevin and Capsada-Munsech, Dr Queralt
• Authors: Valiente, O., Lowden, K., and Capsada-Munsech, Q.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Professional Learning and Leadership ; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
• Journal Name: British Journal of Sociology of Education
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0142-5692
• ISSN (Online): 1465-3346
• Published Online: 13 November 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Sociology of Education 41(2): 218-233
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
172500		YOUNG ADULLLT	Oscar Valiente	European Commission (EC)	693167	ED - The Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change