Education in an Era of Risk – the Role of Educational Research for the Future

Education in an Era of Risk – the Role of Educational Research for the Future

Our globalised, rapidly changing world is increasingly perceived as risky and unstable. War, violence, environmental disasters, political and economic crises, labour market upheaval – such phenomena are viewed daily, not least on account of the changing media landscape. The gap between rich and poor continues to grow exponentially. International migration, which is partly a consequence of these phenomena, leads to drastic societal change in both donor and receiving regions. Old certainties are questioned, leading to uncertainty and ambiguity regarding, for example, social cohesion, political stability and lasting peace. Europe’s geographical, political and economic model, which has stood for security and stability since WWII, has itself become uncertain. Uncertainty also plays out in individual lives, careers, families and social networks. Such developments are of utmost relevance to education systems worldwide as they are responsible for providin…