Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann's Project to Reimagine Economics Education
Jan 1, 2024
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Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann, an international secondary school educator, discusses her project to develop a regenerative economics syllabus that challenges traditional views. She explores alternative economic approaches such as 'Doughnut Economics' and the circular economy, as well as the inclusion of commons and household care economy. The project aims to debut in September 2024 and has attracted international attention.
Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann is leading a collaborative project to develop a regenerative economics syllabus that challenges the current degenerative economic system and introduces alternative economic approaches like Doughnut Economics and the circular economy.
The regenerative economics syllabus emphasizes the importance of the commons, household care, and values-driven approaches, aiming to provide a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of economics that focuses on resilience, care work, and sustainability.
Deep dives
Reimagining Economics Education
Jennifer Bransberg Engelman is leading a project to create a comprehensive new regenerative economic syllabus. The current economics education for young people presents a degenerative economic system, ignores the commons and household care, and focuses primarily on markets and profit maximization. The goal of the new syllabus is to teach economics as if the planet and people really mattered, introducing fresh school of economic thoughts and fostering a focus on regenerative practices within ecological limits.
Addressing Problems in Standard Economics Education
The current economics education presents human beings as selfish profit maximizers, focuses only on markets and governments, ignores the vital role of the commons and household care, and perpetuates the idea that businesses should be profit maximizers. This leads to a limited understanding of human nature and economic systems and disregards the importance of care work and resilience. The regenerative economics syllabus aims to address these problems and introduce a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to economics education.
Creating a Collaborative and Flexible Curriculum
The regenerative economics curriculum is being developed collaboratively, involving academics, secondary school teachers, and students. The curriculum will be modular, allowing teachers flexibility in integrating the materials into their existing courses. It will focus on systems thinking, design thinking, and engaging with communities to create positive change. The curriculum also emphasizes values and ethics, recognizing that economics involves value judgments and should be values-forward.
Rollout and Impact
The regenerative economics curriculum is currently in development and aims to be available for the next school year. There is interest and support from teachers, schools, and organizations globally. The curriculum will be open access and online, allowing for ongoing feedback and adaptation. While the initial focus is on secondary education, the curriculum could also influence higher education by shaping the expectations and thinking of incoming students.
Appalled by the dismal state of economics education for young people, Jennifer Brandsberg-Engelmann, an international secondary school educator, has launched an open, collaborative project to develop a comprehensive Regenerative Economics syllabus. Instead of framing "the economy" as a growth-obsessed machine standing apart from society and nature, Brandsberg-Engelmann showcases alternative economic approaches such as 'Doughnut Economics,' the circular economy, and feminist critiques of care, as well as value-creating sectors like households and commons. The project has attracted strong international attention and will likely debut in September 2024. (More at www.regenerativeeconomics.earth.)
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