Slavoj ?i?ek

Žižek demands we take a long, hard look at the painful reality of education in contemporary capitalist society, and to actively seek out its 'trouble in paradise': Why is it education is supposedly failing to meet the demands of our society? Why is it there are record levels of stress for teachers? Why is it there is a record level of complaints from our university students? How is it now possible to compare a higher education course with a vacuum cleaner, toaster or television? This book illuminates aspects of Žižek's ideas which sheds light into these modern challenges and tensions in education, and considers alternative ways forward. Though Žižek frustrates as much as he inspires with his own recipe of Lacan, Hegel and Marx, this book aims to give an entry route into Žižekian critique of education, a topic area he very rarely directly talks about.

Tony is a specialist in personal and organisational transformation through applied psychologies and work-based learning. He is passionate about enabling professionals to create new insights into their practice and facilitating them to rigorously investigate real world problems and opportunities - leading to deeper, longer-lasting impact. Tony's latest book has been endorsed by Peter Cheese (CEO, CIPD), HR's Most Influential Thinker 2012 and 2013, and has reached Amazon's Top 14 books for training. Leadership Assessment for Talent Development. David has a background as an academic and writer on political and economic theory, though over the last decade or more has developed an interest in academic credit and accreditation of prior learning issues in Higher Education, now running one of Europe's largest HE accreditation frameworks for adult learners in work. David is Director of Professional Development in the Centre for Work Related Studies (CWRS). Also Head of Subject and Framework Leader of Work Based & Integrative Studies (WBIS) which has around 1,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students across the University. Heavily involved in curriculum design and accreditation services work, particularly with outside agencies and employers including the Cabinet Office, RAF and Department of Work and Pensions.