Philanthropy in Education: Cross-Cutting Issues, Social Finance and Impact Investors

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

While the international education sector has historically been dominated by non-profits, multilateral donors and bilateral aid, philanthropic actors are increasingly active in the sector (Ridge & Terway, 2019). Despite a few publications by global education policy scholars within Comparative and International Education (CIE) (Ball, 2019, or also Au, & Lubienski, 2016; and Olmedo, 2016), education research about philanthropy’s involvement in education provision, funding, and policy making is surprisingly scarce relative to its increasing importance and impact on the field. Though studies exploring the history of education sometimes investigate the intersection of philanthropy and education, the literature to date tends to be uncomprehensive, scattered, affirmative and therefore uncritical, sometimes advocacy driven, and highly US focused (see Erfurth & Ridge, forthcoming; Walton, 2019; or Drezner, 2017). Discussions missing in the literature include, for instance, those around rising global levels of individual wealth and corresponding increases in philanthropic giving around the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific and MENA regions (Drezner, 2017; Terway, 2019). Moreover, philanthropic actors and networks are becoming more diverse, more influential and more active in debates and policy advocacy in the education sector. As they do this they also seek to widen their spheres of influence and activity while raising new theoretical and methodological questions in CIE research. In sum, philanthropy’s role and involvement in education and policymaking is growing, but the implications of this larger change for education and policy remain understudied. To be more precise, such change encompasses an increasing global interconnection of philanthropies; the growing outreach and geographic scope in which they operate; the pursuit of geopolitical/-strategic agendas; or also the intersection of non-profit philanthropy and for-profit business in education.
This panel, drawn from a volume on Philanthropy in Education: Diverse Perspectives and Global Trends, a joint project between the Al Qasimi Foundation and NORRAG, published with Edward Elgar, brings together four different empirical and conceptual papers to explore some of the cross-cutting issues surrounding the role of philanthropy in education from the perspectives of both researchers and practitioners. In addition, they address new forms of philanthropic funding such as impact investing and social finance. The first paper presents findings about ‘new philanthropy’ and global policy networks in education, focusing on emerging agendas and actors in Argentina. The second paper investigates the UBS Optimus Foundation’s use of social finance in education and policy. The third study discusses the complex power dynamics involved in the study of philanthropy and education, focusing on the relations between U.S. based foundations and African universities from an actor-centric perspective. Closing the panel session, the fourth paper will explore the challenges facing ‘new philanthropy’ as it seeks to work in the development sector and whether or not it has learned any lessons from the aid sector.

Sub Unit

• Philanthropy and Education SIG

Chair

• Natasha Y. Ridge, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research

Individual Presentations

• New Philanthropy and Global Policy Networks in Education: The Case of Argentina - Ivan Matovich, Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth

• Tackling the Global Education Crisis: The UBS Optimus Foundation’s Use of Social Finance - Arushi Terway, NORRAG

• Collaboration in Development despite a Relationship of Unequals between U.S. Foundations and Universities in Africa - Fabrice Jaumont, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l'Homme; Teboho Moja, New York University

• New Philanthropy, Age-Old Problems - Natasha Y. Ridge, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research