Education as a co-developed commodity in Finland? A rhetorical discourse analysis on business accelerator for EdTech startups

Bibliographic Data

ID21785441
AuthorsNina Nivanaho (0000-0002-3483-5650, University of Turku, corresponding author), Sonia Lempinen (0000-0002-8278-3373, University of Turku), Piia Seppänen (0000-0003-0156-6412, University of Turku)
Year2024
Volume49
Issue4
Pages670-684
Publication date2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLearning Media and Technology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1743-9884 • E-ISSN: 1743-9892
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17439884.2023.2251391
OpenAlexW4386255222
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited51

Education business and the actors involved in it have gained increasing global attention. However, little is known about the commercial actors participating in mainly publicly maintained comprehensive schooling in Finland and how the roles of teachers and schools are seen in this edu-business. In this article, we analyze ‘edu-business acceleration’ by a Finnish company, xEdu, that develops EdTech startups for the global education market. Using rhetorical discourse analysis, this case study identifies and analyzes xEdu’s aims for EdTech business in Finland, focusing particularly on the role assigned to teachers and schools in the business. Through these discourses, xEdu wishes to ‘scale up’ Finnish comprehensive schooling by utilizing both the reputation of Finnish education and the expertise of Finnish teachers. Building on a framework of the global education industry, we discuss the dominant EdTech discourses surrounding Finnish comprehensive schooling and how they are legitimized and promoted by versatile rhetorical means

Business · Commodity · Political science · Public relations · Reputation · Rhetorical question · Social science · Sociology · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Teacher Education and Leadership Studies · Finance

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