Academic identities and policy change in higher education / Mary Henkel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Henkel, Mary.

Series:

Higher education policy series ; 46.

Higher education policy ; 46

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

College teaching--Great Britain.

College teaching.

Government policy.

Great Britain.

Higher education and state--Great Britain.

Higher education and state.

College teaching--Government policy--Great Britain.

Physical Description:

286 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

London ; Philadelphia : Jessica Kingsley, 2000.

Summary:

Academic Identities and Policy Change in Higher Education looks at the 'classical' notion of academic identity, the paradoxical ideal of strong individuals within a community of equals, and examines the extent to which this is reflected in reality. The author argues that the higher education reforms and consequent changes in the academic community have created an impetus towards a more structured environment, encouraging new, 'professional' academic identities. She also asks whether the reforms have made the institution more important than the disciplines.

Part One outlines briefly the extent of policy change, then focuses on two specific policy initiatives as case studies, the 1987 Enterprise in Higher Education Initiative and the 1992 quality assurance policies. The book considers the responses of academic leaders, higher education institutions and academics in the basic units to these changes, and examines the degree to which they have affected the institutional environment and the framework of assumptions within which academics work.

Part Two discusses the themes of academic identity development and continuity and change in depth, focusing first on the process of becoming an academic and then on three key roles: teacher, researcher and administrator or manager. Each chapter demonstrates the impacts of policy upon disciplinary committees, institutions and academic roles and consider what they mean for academic identities. Finally the author examines how far there are patterns of difference in these respects between different disciplines and different types of institution.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

185302662X

OCLC:

50403678