OSN Influence on Policy & Education

International Lecture Series #20: Educational Reforms and Equity in a Digitally Connected World

On June 29, 2023, Dr. Taehee Choi, Associate Professor at the University of Southampton and Fellow at the Higher Education Academy, joined Adamas University's School of Education as an International Resource Person for their 20th lecture in the prestigious International Lecture Series. This event centered on ‘Educational Reforms and Equity in a Digitally Connected World’, examining how educational practices and policies can adapt to an increasingly interconnected global landscape while prioritizing equitable access and inclusive learning environments. Convened by Prof. Dr. Shauli Mukherjee, Director of the School of Education, the session highlighted challenges and opportunities in integrating digital advancements within educational reforms to bridge gaps in access and quality. The event coordination was led by Dr. Amlesh Kumar, Assistant Professor at Adamas University, with Anamika Debnath, a B.Ed. student, serving as moderator.

The lecture offered valuable insights…

Consultancy for digital governance of national educational data, Sejong City, South Korea

Since July 2023, Dr. Taehee Choi has actively advised Sejong City, South Korea, on enhancing digital governance in education. Recently, Dr. Choi, as a Co-I, and Korea University's research team, led by Prof. Cho Hyun Koo, secured funding from the National Research Foundation of Korea for a project entitled Reassessing the Governance of Educational Information Systems and Data Management (starting from 1 September 2024). Korea University leads this initiative, with the University of Southampton (UoS) collaborating on multiple fronts, including aligning research with international academic discourse, developing research tools, and analyzing data. UoS will contribute its intellectual resources, gaining recognition in international academic outputs derived from the project. Korea University has allocated approximately 3,200,000 KRW annually to UoS for its contribution to the project, with an additional 20,000,000 KRW per year for project objectives and dissemination efforts,…

At the 2023 Joint International Conference on English Language Teaching (ELT) in Korea, Dr. Taehee Choi, from the University of Southampton, explored transformative trends in English language education within the context of digital and public-private partnerships (PPP). Themed English Language Education in the Era of Digital Transformation: Opportunities, Connectivity, and Sustainability, the conference brought together experts to examine emerging strategies and challenges in a rapidly digitizing educational landscape. Dr. Choi’s invited speech addressed critical areas: the global rise of PPPs, pandemic-driven digitalization in TESOL, and her involvement in a 4-nation project assessing educational quality, equity, and the de/re-professionalization of teaching. Highlighting how PPPs influence TESOL, she offered insights into maintaining educational standards and equity amidst growing school-business collaborations. Her contribution provided valuable perspectives on balancing educational innovation with sustainable, equitable solutions. She concluded by outlining practical solutions to enhance digital connectivity and resilience in English language education, inspiring further collaboration among…

In a recent paper presented at ECER 2024 (30th of August), Choi explored the marketing strategies of schools in Hong Kong and Nepal as they navigate the complexities of privatization. Co-authored with Prem Poudel, Lina Dong and Ming Ming Chiu, our study on ‘Privatisation of Schooling Captured on Social Media: Selling education amid uncertainty and keeping schooling as a public good’ highlights how schools increasingly turn to social media, particularly Facebook, to enhance their image and recruit students in a competitive educational environment. Through a comparative analysis of 18 schools, we delve into the distinct yet converging ways that schools from these two contexts utilize social media—either promoting themselves through neoliberal market strategies or championing education as a public good.

Our findings suggest that while some schools in Hong Kong adopt a clearly entrepreneurial stance, often emphasizing school choice and quality metrics, others in Nepal subtly integrate social justice into their…