Talking Teaching The Purpose of Education: In Conversation with Professor Gert Biesta
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Mar 26, 2025 
Professor Gert Biesta, an esteemed educator at Maynooth University and the University of Edinburgh, dives into the deeper purpose of education. He discusses his transition from post-war Rotterdam and outlines three dimensions of learning: qualification, socialization, and subjectification. The conversation highlights the evolving role of teachers in fostering critical thinking and student agency, particularly as education grapples with AI advancements. Biesta also advocates for a world-centered curriculum, emphasizing the importance of integrating students' experiences in education.
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Post-War Childhood Shapes Perspective
- Gert Biesta grew up on the border of the destroyed and old parts of Rotterdam after WWII.
- This personal context shapes his lifelong inquiry into education’s role in human freedom and morality.
Education's Threefold Purpose
- Education serves three purposes: qualification, socialisation, and subjectification.
- Teaching is complex; moves in one domain affect the others like three-dimensional chess.
Students Perceive Teaching Nuance
- Students are astute in perceiving the implicit values and expectations in teaching.
- Good teachers engage students beyond tasks, prompting deeper reflection and agency.
