Using the rights contained in the Freedom of Information Act, we collected data on the teaching undertaken by staff at 52 UK universities. In contrast to workload modelling, our data reveals the extent of the variation in contact hours by institution, subject, and seniority. We provide for the first time an accurate measure of the teaching…

This paper uses insider research within a Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework to examine the lived induction-to-teaching experiences of twelve new academics at a case-study Northern UK university. A CHAT lens foregrounds contradictions as a source for change in the induction-to-teaching process. Data generated through…

Higher Education frameworks have a strong focus on increasing students' satisfaction. This vision increases expectations on academic performance that often derive from stringent output measures for staff. The combination of internal and external demands for workers, such as those derived from their interaction with society, could create inadequate…

In response to the spread of COVID-19 in early 2020, schools across the UK moved to virtual teaching arrangements for the majority of their learners. Some localized school closures occurred in England in February 2020, with a national lockdown following in March 2020. Although relaxed in June 2020, concerns about rising cases of the virus led to a…

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in government initiatives to widen Higher Education (HE) participation in the UK. Consequently, various Further Education Colleges (FECs) provide HE in order to meet that drive. In 2021, 162 FECs provided HE undergraduate degrees, yet little research has been focused on HE lecturers and their…

Collegiality and the contribution to the sustenance of the academy through academic citizenship are central to commonly held conceptions of what it is to be a university. This study investigates the articulation and recognition of academic citizenship through institutional promotion criteria, including both traditional research and…

Sickness presenteeism refers to the practice of continuing to work during illness. Although not always damaging, working while sick can impair employees' wellbeing and professional functioning. As the causes of presenteeism are multi-faceted, insight into the experiences of different occupational groups is needed. This study examines the…

As higher education increasingly aligns with the ideology of the marketplace, we argue that conditions of corporate competition have contributed to the invisibilization of collective work in UK higher education. Drawing on the work of Wa Thiong'o, N. (1986. "Decolonising the mind: The politics of language in African literature." Nairobi,…

There is a growing concern that AI is likely to replace the work done face to face in the classroom by teachers. The concerns also extend to the students use of AI to complete assignments which could impact on their grades either positive or negative and in some cases, when a student work is detected with high AI the work could be classified as…

The increasing casualisation of academic labour over recent years has been noted across the global north. In the UK, this takes a number of forms, including fixed term, hourly paid and zero hours contracts. What tends to characterise them all, however, is a focus on the short-term. In this paper, we draw on a qualitative study with 20 UK-based…

This paper explores the role that conflicting rhythms of academic life and crisis have on the ability of academics to meet their commitments, such as providing support to students. Drawing from our experience in UK higher education, we argue that contemporary academic life can be seen as a constant process of being taken over by different crises.…

Academic staff experience high levels of work-related stress and poor mental health. As a result, many institutions face high staff turnover. These outcomes may be driven by complex and, at times, apparently oppositional objectives academics need to meet around research and teaching. These factors may present both practical and social…

Personal tutoring is renowned for the positive role it can play in supporting student satisfaction, engagement and attainment outcomes in higher education. Surprisingly though, few studies have specifically investigated the demands of this role from the perspective of the personal tutor. Through the theoretical lens of Role Theory, this study…

This study sought to increase understanding on barriers to securing academic employment met by people with disabilities. Lindsay and Fuentes [2022. "It is Time to Address Ableism in Academia: A Systematic Review of the Experiences and Impact of Ableism among Faculty and Staff." "Disabilities" 2 (2): 178-203] pointed out the…

In recent years the UK higher education sector has made great progress increasing the representation of Black academics, but more work is needed so every early-career academic has equal opportunity to develop their career. In this report, Dr. Becca Franssen and colleagues draw on survey results and in-depth interviews to paint a picture of the…