Title: Beyond the degree: a classroom exercise

Authors: Laura Beltran Figueroa

Addresses: Center for Women and Work, Rutgers University, USA

Abstract: This paper explores the pedagogical exercise of analysing the value of higher education through the lens of heterodox economics, focusing on a class activity that engages students with real-world labour market data. In an era where neoliberal ideologies dominate educational narratives, encouraging perpetual academic advancement as a panacea for economic success, this exercise challenges students to critically assess the empirical relationship between educational attainment and earnings potential. By comparing job listings for positions requiring bachelor's degrees with those requiring master's and advanced degrees, students are prompted to reflect on the material outcomes of higher education investments. The paper argues that such pedagogical practices can foster a critical consciousness among students, empowering them to make informed decisions about their educational and economic futures.

Keywords: higher education; labour market; critical pedagogy; student consciousness; discussion boards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPEE.2025.148023

International Journal of Pluralism and Economics Education, 2025 Vol.15 No.3, pp.229 - 248

Received: 05 Apr 2024
Accepted: 04 Jan 2025
Published online: 14 Aug 2025 *

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