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More than words: a critical discourse analysis of the University of Victoria Co-operative Education Program

This study explored the discourse of the University of Victoria Social Sciences Co-op
Program. It reviewed literature that illustrates how neoliberal ideologies due to globalization lead to the marketization of post-secondary education. It provided an overview of the neoliberal discursive context in which the Co-op Program is situated and a semiotic analysis of the discourse of three documents. Particular focus was paid to metaphoric representations.
A co-op practitioner conducted the study, which included a reflective discussion of the findings related to the role of the Co-op Program staff, students and employers. The study highlighted neoliberal discourses that may impact a student’s educational experience by limiting student agency, reinforcing power structures, and focusing on career training with little emphasis on learning. As a way forward, the study presented different discourses and metaphoric representations that could be drawn upon to emancipate the students and harness the potential of an experiential education program.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/3010
Date31 August 2010
CreatorsKobrc, Helen
ContributorsClover, Darlene E.
Source SetsUniversity of Victoria
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
RightsAvailable to the World Wide Web

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