Critical Reflections on Contemporary Educational Research, Education as an Academic Discipline and Educational Theory, and A New Perspective of Subjectifying Education: An Interview with Professor Gert Biesta

This article is based on an interview with Professor Gert Biesta around four themes:educational research, education as an academic discipline and educational theory as well as his new exploration of subjectifying education. Biesta argues that educational research merely focusing on effectiveness is too narrow, and the evidence-based educational research and practice is problematic, and all this is due to the misunderstanding of the dynamics of education. Then, Biesta defends the intellectual integrity of education as an academic discipline. After this he highlights the importance of theorizing education from the perspective of educators, and interprets his own theories. Finally, Biesta articulates his recent educational thought "the world-centered education", with a focus on showing how subjectifying education happens in this kind of education and hence finds its position in it. The article offers a range of critical reflections on current educational research, education as an academic discipline and educational theory, and demonstrates a new educational view that makes subjectifying education occur.