The implicit “subjectification” in vocational degrees
Gert Biesta outlines three main purposes for education in “Risking ourselves in education: Qualification, socialization, and subjectification revisited” (2020). The three domains are as follows:
Qualification—The provision of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that allow students to “do something”, i.e. preparing them for the world of work and civic life.
Socialization—The ways education introduces students into particular social, cultural, and political structures.
Subjectification—Helping students become more independent in their thinking and acting.
While all three domains are interconnected, most of us probably experienced a childhood education that emphasized qualification.
At first glance, it may appear that online programs, particularly those marketed for career advancement, also primarily serve the domain of qualification. However, this overlooks the complex interplay between these domains in the context of adult learning.
Adult learners, even when pursuing education with specific career goals in mind, engage in a process that inherently requires and supports subjectification. The very act of choosing to further one’s education, researching options, and committing to a learning journey demonstrates critical engagement with one’s life journey.