“In this mini-course, we’ve learned a great deal about what essentially spurs and what hinders educational reforms”

Harry Patrinos, Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank Education, was visiting IOE this spring to lecture on what tops the international agenda in the economics of education and education policy. In between his talks, we asked the IOE faculty and students who attended for their firsthand impressions of this mini-course.   

Here at IOE, we have always striven to stay on the cutting edge of the global agenda in education and this guest course by Harry Patrinos undoubtedly heralds a highly edifying landmark event for the Institute. Specifically, the lectures have enabled a deeper understanding of the nexus between educational research and policy while also spotlighting the key areas and facets of further development. Much attention in the program has been paid to topics surrounding the imperatives of striking the right balance between institutional autonomy and accountability – a dimension that has recently seen more heightened discussion by various stakeholders both in Russia and in many other countries.    

Pavel Sorokin, Academic Supervisor in IOE's Evidence-based Educational Policy MA

The part of the course that I was particularly interested in was dedicated to the modern frameworks and approaches in educational management to improve the quality of learning, ‘The 3 A’s in Education: Assessment, Accountability and Autonomy.’ The lectures have enabled me to develop a clearer and more consistent idea about today’s best practices in governing education and the criteria for enhancing the existing administration models. I am sure to be actively using this knowledge in future.

Lada Pereyaslavtseva, student in IOE’s Evidence-based Educational Policy MA

I am focused on various topics and aspects of returns on education. There is now a consensus that the extent of socio-economic payoffs that educational systems are able to generate is an essential condition that determines how well we are placed to succeed in countering inequality. In this respect, we can hardly overestimate the role of research on the subject that is done by the World Bank experts across national and system levels. This expertise by the World Bank provides compelling insights into how advancing education can spur socio-economic growth, which strategies can generate the greatest returns on investments in human capital, what the key priority areas for educational reforms are, etc.   

Elvira Nasekina, student in IOE’s Evidence-based Educational Policy MA 

The mini-course has been a truly unique opportunity to develop a deeper and more multifaceted look at many important issues of education policy by learning from Mr. Patrinos’s unequalled experience that spans an educational space as broad and diverse as Latin America, Asia, etc. Once you are able to take a perspective just as wide, you start to realize the factors and processes that play a genuinely essential part in fostering or, by contrast, hampering sustainable change in education. And sure, it was particularly valuable to receive personal feedback from a world-class expert such as Harry Patrinos.   

Stanislav Avdeev, student in IOE’s Education Economics and Management MA

Recognized as one of the world’s most distinguished experts in the field, Harry Patrinos specializes in multiple dimensions of education, including school management, funding, PPP models, evaluation systems, etc. During his career, Mr. Patrinos has administered a premier portfolio of educational initiatives worldwide and has contributed extensively to both academic publications and global policy papers.

Between July 8 and 12, 2019, Harry Patrinos will be lecturing as a keynote at this year’s International Summer School on the Economics of Education and Education Policy, a newly launched collaboration between HSE and the World Bank.