On the Problem of Foundation Skills and the Futures of Work

Garry Argent is Lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University. His research focuses on the foundation skills of adults, vocational education and applied learning in schools.Peter Kelly is Professor of Education in the School of Education at Deakin University. His research focuses on young people’s education, employment and well-being in times of crisis at the convergence of the sixth mass extinction and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

• AcknowledgementsList of IllustrationsAbbreviationsPrelude: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Value Proposition of Being Human1 Garry’s Story: Part 12 Garry’s Story: Part 23 A Conversation between Peter and ChatGPT: Part 14 Garry’s Story: Part 35 A Conversation between Peter and ChatGPT: Part 21 Developing a Genealogy of the Problem of Foundation Skills1 Introduction2 The Changing Nature of Language and Literacy as Foundation Skills3 The Emergence of Foundation Skills as a Skills Market in Australia4 Genealogy as a Critical History of Thought5 Apparatus and Governmentality6 Our Toolbox7 Structure of the Book2 Neoliberal Capitalism and the ‘Problem’ of Foundation Skills1 Introduction2 The Emergence of Neoliberal Markets in Australia3 Globalisation, Flexible Capitalism: Changing Labour Markets and a New World of Work4 Discussion: Individual Responsibility and the Neoliberal Template for Social Policy3 The Neoliberal Foundation Skills Apparatus1 Introduction2 The Historical Moment of Urgent Need: Policy, Surveys and Mutual Obligation3 Strategic Function of the Apparatus: Resistance, Regulation and Transcendent Possibilities4 The Elements of the Apparatus: Characteristics and the Nature of Their Connection5 The Foundation Skills Apparatus: Debates and Truth Claims4 Creating a Skills Market: The Marketisation and Commodification of Foundation Skills1 Introduction2 Foundation Skills as a Commodity: Students, Funding, Knowledge and Skills3 Hidden Privatisation: The Victorian Training Guarantee4 Discussion: Policy Change and Reflexive Governance5 The Choice-making Learner as a Customer: The Individualisation and Responsibilisation of Foundation Skills1 Introduction2 The Emergence of Individualisation and Responsibilisation in Foundation Skills3 The Impact of Individualisation and Responsibilisation at the Program Level4 Discussion: The Subjugation (and Responsibilisation) of Socio-Economic Disadvantage in the Foundation Skills Apparatus6 A History of the Future of Foundation Skills1 A History of the Present of Foundation Skills2 A History of the Future of Foundation SkillsBibliographyIndex