Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact competency frameworks as standardisation can have on the employee engagement of academic staff within higher education (HE) through their employment as managerial tools. Design/methodology/approach: A literature review is conducted from which the conditions for effective competency…

With increasing moves globally towards the professionalisation of teaching in Higher Education, there is growing interest in the role of accredited professional recognition schemes that provide professional development for established university teaching staff. In the UK, There are now over 120 professional recognition schemes, resulting in…

In March 2020 virtually all UK universities were suddenly thrown into an unprecedented and sudden closure of campus and facilities owing to the British Government's COVID-19 pandemic lockdown policies. Further evidence suggests that this exacerbated existing gendered differences. This paper reports on UK academic responses from an international…

Contemporary changes in the domain of knowledge production are usually seen as posing significant challenges to 'the University'. This paper argues against the framing of the university as an ideal-type, and considers epistemic gains from treating universities as assemblages (e.g. DeLanda, M. 2016. "Assemblage Theory." Edinburgh:…

Colleges, universities, and independent schools use branding to attract students, keep alumni close, and unite faculty behind the institution. That last bit is key because one can't box and ship global perspectives, personal attention, flexible programs, campus traditions, innovative research, and the limitless other qualities that make…

This study investigates the experiences of academics who became department heads in a post-1992 UK university and explores the influence that being in the position has on their planned future academic career. Drawing on life history interviews undertaken with 17 male and female heads of department, the paper constitutes an in-depth study of their…

This paper examines the evolution of programmes of enterprise education and technology transfer at the University of Cambridge in response to the growth of the Cambridge Cluster and public policy programmes designed to enhance the economic impact of higher education institutions. The authors highlight the way education programmes developed by the…

This study focuses on aspects of the Changing Academic Profession survey of 2007-08 that describe the place of faculty in their institutions. The authors examine the following aspects of institutional life: (1) the faculty role in institutional governance; (2) who evaluates their teaching and research; (3) the locus of their loyalties as between…

This paper examines the implications for academic careers of the apparent global trend towards marketisation and managerialism in higher education with reference to the UK and Germany. It discusses how university employers might exercise greater control over their employees, privileging research and international publication, and fragmenting the…

The core argument is that social science must re-examine its mission and praxis in order to be a significant player in future higher education. This article reviews the results and prospects arising from a four-year international project. Originating in Greenwood and Levin's concern about the social sciences, the project, funded by the Ford…

Draws on emerging trends in British universities to examine arguments concerning the continued specialization of comparative and international education versus its integration into other disciplines. Argues that there is an urgent need for comparativists to become active change agents in the broader transformation of their institutions into…

Examined the level of satisfaction which academics in the United Kingdom derive from the behavior of their line managers, including the impact of certain worker characteristics on level of satisfaction. Found that almost half were indifferent or dissatisfied with managers, and that academics' age and length of service influenced satisfaction…

This paper presents the findings of an investigation of the academic appraisal program at the University of Ulster (Northern Island), used to evaluate the performance of faculty. The evidence reveals inconsistency, tension, and uncertainty about the program and its effects. (MDM)

This book discusses changes in United Kingdom universities such as, expansion, diversification and revised expectations and their impact on university organization. The key dilemma is felt to be how to recover and nurture a shared sense of purpose between those who manage and those who deliver a curriculum under social and economic pressure. The…

The implementation of reforms of institutional governance in France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom is reviewed. The analysis is focused on reform goals associated with autonomy and participation. These goals have only partly been achieved, due to unrealistic assumptions and to the continuation of interest group politics during policy…