Translating Education Otherwise

In the last couple of years, I have collaborating on a book project (1) that has used Translation as an approach to think through issues of Global policy transfer. To do this we have developed a conceptual repertoire to... [ view full abstract ]

In the last couple of years, I have collaborating on a book project (1) that has used Translation as an approach to think through issues of Global policy transfer. To do this we have developed a conceptual repertoire to support thinking that is drawn from policy studies, post- and de- colonial literature, linguistics, anthropology and philosophy. Translation has been helpful from a critical theory perspective in offering a political and cultural critique of policy transfer. It has also been helpful in offering what we have called ‘glimpses’ of ‘policy otherwise’ – i.e. those moments where we might catch the possibility of seeing how policies might be translated across contexts and cultures differently.

Translation in the way we are using it, has emancipatory potential in its multiplicity, in its undetermined and negotiated nature. Potential translations (of schools, of education etc) are always multiple, and although these are often collapsed, a translation perspective highlights the potential otherwise to what exists.

This pop-up is to invite anyone who thinks these ideas interesting to collaborate. The idea is to develop this further within more specific contexts – to work with a form of collaborative praxis using these ideas as tools to think through how education might be translated differently and serve all communities - particularly those who are marginalized and disadvantaged by current educational practices and systems.


(1) Clarke, J., Bainton, D., Lendvai, N., Stubbs, P. (2015) Making Policy Move: Towards a politics of Translation and Assemblage, Policy Press.