Thinkpieces

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DEA commissions Thinkpieces to create debate on issues related to policy, theory and practice.

Writing a DEA Thinkpiece provides an opportunity to share your experience and views with a wide audience, to generate and inform debate, and to contribute to a broader movement for change in education.

Areas of particular focus for this year are:
• The barriers and opportunities for education for a more just and sustainable world.
• Examples and evidence of good practice in education for a more just and sustainable world.

If you would like to respond to an existing Thinkpiece, or contribute a new one for publication on this website, please read the guidelines and contact Helen Young, email: helen.young@dea.org.uk.


Download Thinkpieces


  • Thinking about linking? (February 2008)
    Margaret Burr asks: What sort of thinking goes into linking? How much thinking really does go into linking? Do we do enough thinking about linking? Do we really think before we link? The piece includes the author’s stories and personal anecdotes about linking, which highlight some of the issues and potential pitfalls.

  • Why ‘global learning’ ? & thinking about a new DEA (January 2008)
    Scott Sinclair responds to the request for contributions to discussion about the DEA’s future priorities and considers the potential of a new distinctive focus on development and the role of education.

  • The importance of humanities subjects (November 2007)
    David Lambert argues that the humanities are essential to education for a just and sustainable world. He focuses on the importance of subject knowledge and makes the case for humanities being a core part of all 14-19 diplomas.

  • Enjoyment as a basis for learning: the new secondary National Curriculum and the Specialised Diplomas (October 2007)
    Nigel Rayment considers the extent to which the new secondary National Curriculum and the Specialised Diplomas might provide opportunities to promote education as described in DEA’s mission.

  • The contributions of postcolonial theory to development education (August 2007)
    In this extended Thinkpiece, Vanessa Andreotti introduces the field of post-colonial theory and explores the potential contributions of this area to development education. This is based on an article which was previously published in the Development Education Journal.