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Educational Theories and Systems: Inequalities, Politics and Social Change

Code: 45011
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Research in Education OP 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Mauro Carlos Moschetti Plaul
Email :
mauro.moschetti@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Joan-Carles Melich Sangra
Ingrid Agud Morell
Alejandro Caravaca Hernandez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

This is a mandatory course for the specialisation in Inequalities, Socio-Educational Research, and Transformation.

Objectives

The aim of this course is to understand the relationships between educational systems and inequalities, drawing on various theoretical and empirical contributions from academic literature. The course content will analyse these relationships at the macro, meso, and micro levels. It will thus address different theories and approaches to education and educational policy-making, aspects related to the culture and structure of educational institutions, and the role of teaching staff and families in relation to inequalities and social change. The content blocks structuring the course will enable students to identify the inequalities present at the different stages of schooling—access, process, and outcomes—and will provide the appropriate tools for reflection, analysis, and the development of research proposals within this framework.

Learning outcomes

  • CA29 (Formulate a research problem and research questions and goals in the field of education theory, policy and educational intervention.) Formulate a research problem and research questions and goals in the field of education theory, policy and educational intervention.
  • CA30 (Assess the social, economic and environmental impact of education theory research, policy and educational intervention.) Assess the social, economic and environmental impact of education theory research, policy and educational intervention.
  • CA31 (Conduct research in the field of education theory, policy and educational intervention assessing inequalities based on sex/gender, ethnicity, class, religion and age.) Conduct research in the field of education theory, policy and educational intervention assessing inequalities based on sex/gender, ethnicity, class, religion and age.
  • KA28 (Identify different lines of research in the fields of education theory, politics and educational intervention.) Identify different lines of research in the fields of education theory, politics and educational intervention.
  • KA29 (Identify problems and offer solutions for educational needs at the macro, meso and micro levels using innovative approaches.) Identify problems and offer solutions for educational needs at the macro, meso and micro levels using innovative approaches.
  • SA19 (Produce a comprehensive review of the scientific literature in the fields of education theory, policy and educational intervention.) Produce a comprehensive review of the scientific literature in the fields of education theory, policy and educational intervention.
  • SA20 (Present a research study while adapting the tone to the type of scientific article.) Present a research study while adapting the tone to the type of scientific article.

Contents

1. Power and Otherness
1.1 Concepts of Theory, Politics, and Education
1.2 Critical Theory: Time Acceleration, Alienation, Education, Resonance, and Unavailability
1.3 Education and Technological System


2. Power and Control
2.1 Politics, State Theories, and Education
2.2 Globalization, Modernization, Development (and Alternatives)
2.3 International Organizations, Evaluation, and Data Colonialism


3. Power and Normativity
3.1 Deconstruction of the Educated Subject from Feminist Critical Theories
3.2 Redefinition of the Concept of Family and Community from Geo-generational Reciprocity
3.3 'The Revolution of Bodies': Anti-coloniality and Crip Pedagogy

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
On-site in large group 36 1.44 CA29, CA30, CA31, KA29, SA19
Individual module work 94 3.76 CA29, CA30, CA31, KA28, KA29, SA19
Individual assignment 20 0.8 CA29, CA30, CA31, KA28, KA29, SA19, SA20

The learning activities will be carried out through the following formats:

- Lectures

- Reading, analysis, and discussion of articles and documentary sources

- Classroom practice: debates / case studies / exercises

- Individual, supervised work

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Analysis of articles (reading, oral commentary, and discussion/presentation of the articles covered during the module) (GROUP) 40% 0 0 CA29, CA30, CA31, KA28, SA19, SA20
Preparation of an academic article (individual writing of an academic article on a topic related to the module, following formal and academic content criteria) (INDIVIDUAL) 50% 0 0 CA29, CA30, CA31, KA28, KA29, SA19, SA20
Attendance and participation (active engagement in sessions, contributions and discussions in class) (INDIVIDUAL) 10% 0 0 CA29, CA30, CA31, KA28, KA29, SA19, SA20

The assessment of this module is based on two pillars: the activities carried out in class (group and individual) and the preparation of an academic article (individual). Throughout the sessions, several assessable exercises will be carried out, while the article must be submitted on 18 March. Teaching staff will return and grade each piece of evidence within a maximum period of twenty working days from submission. The final grade will be the weighted average of all activities, provided that the student achieves at least 4 out of 10 in each one—including the article.

Attendance is essential: to be eligible for a passing grade, students must have attended at least 80% of classes. Active involvement and participation in sessions—contributions, discussions, and a collaborative attitude towards the group—is an attitudinal aspect that directly affects the grading of this activity. When a piece of evidence is not submitted, or is submitted in such an incomplete form that it cannot be assessed, the corresponding grade will be "Not assessable"; this same grade will also apply in cases of plagiarism or copying, which will additionally be reported to the programme coordination.

The module offers a single assessment option for those who require it. Students wishing to opt for this modality must notify teaching staff during the first two weeks of class. In this case, on 18 March they will submit:

  • Preparation of an academic article (individual writing of an academic article on a topic related to the module, following formal and academic content criteria) (INDIVIDUAL) — 50%
  • In-depth oral presentation (individual oral presentation on three topics covered in the module) (INDIVIDUAL) — 50%

If the academic article (continuous assessment) or the assessable elements of the single assessment are not passed, the resit will take place on 14 June and will consist exclusively of reviewing and reworking the academic article. The remaining activities (article analysis, attendance and participation, oral presentation) are not eligible for resit. The module does not include a synthesis exam for students enrolled for a second time.

Finally, the use of artificial intelligence tools is permitted provided that a genuinely critical approach is adopted: students must indicate which parts were AI-assisted, verify the reliability of the information, and take full responsibility for authorship. Uncritical or undisclosed use will be considered an academic offence and will result in a "Not assessable" grade.

To pass this course, students must demonstrate good general communicative competence, both oral and written, and a good command of the language(s) of instruction specified in the course guide. In all activities (individual and group), linguistic accuracy, writing quality, and formal presentation aspects will therefore be taken into account. Students must be able to express themselves fluently and accurately and must demonstrate a high degree of comprehension of academic texts. An activity may be returned (not assessed) or failed if the instructor considers that it does not meet these requirements.

Bibliography

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Software

Microsoft Teams will be used in case of virtual teaching

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon