Reimagining Universities for Democracy and Sustainability through Global Citizenship Education (GCE)-Infused Language Education
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Abstract
This article examines how neoliberalism has reshaped higher education and with what consequences for graduates, society, and the environment. Drawing on examples from Thailand and international contexts, it argues for a shift toward a mission-oriented public value university that balances economic, social, and ecological priorities while renewing higher education's democratic role. It further proposes integrating Global Citizenship Education (GCE) into language education as a scalable curricular pathway capable of reaching most students and counterbalancing market-driven pressures. Situated in the Thai context, the article shows how tensions between civic responsibility and vocational, revenue-driven imperatives have narrowed the public mission of universities. By repositioning language education as a site for critical, ethical, and globally engaged learning, the article argues that universities can contribute more meaningfully to democracy, sustainability, and public value.
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