Challenging Approaches to Academic Career-Making

by Celia Whitchurch, William Locke, Giulio Marini

Overview

Against a background of changing patterns of academic labour in the UK and other English speaking countries, this book draws on empirical research which identifies a shift towards more open-ended approaches to roles and careers in higher education. This has resulted in what the authors describe as 'concertina-like' careers, in which individuals stretch the spaces and timescales available to them. Underpinning this process, the concept of 'career scripts' shows how the career paths of individuals may be informed by formal career structures (Institutional scripts) but also by activity associated with professional practice (Practice scripts), and by personal strengths, interests and commitments (Internal scripts). This has led to new forms of activity, within both the formal institutional economy, including promotion criteria and prescribed career pathways, and the informal institutional economy, represented by personal interests and initiatives, professional relationships and networks. The 'concertina' process enables individuals to address a series of common misalignments and disjunctures within formal institutional economies, including those associated with disciplinary and departmental affiliations, job profiles, progression criteria, and work allocation models. The book also explores directions that academic careers may take in the future, and how institutions might adapt to these changes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350282551
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	04/06/2023
Series:	Bloomsbury Higher Education Research
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Celia Whitchurch is Honorary Associate Professor at the Centre for Global Higher Education at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, UK.

William Locke is Honorary Professorial Fellow of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Giulio Marini is Lecturer (Teaching) in the Social Research Institute (SRI-UCL) at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, UK.
Celia Whitchurch is Associate Professor at the Centre for Global Higher Education at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, UK.
William Locke is Professor and Director of the Melbourne Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Giulio Marini is Teaching Fellow in the Social Science Research Institute at University College London, UK.

Table of Contents

Series Editor's Foreword
Acknowledgements
Notes on Authors
1. The Changing Parameters of Academic Work
2. Academic Career Trajectories and Aspirations
3. The Study and Early Findings
4. The Significance of Career Scripts
5. The Rise of the 'Concertina' Career
6. Negotiating Misalignments and Disjunctures
7. Whither the Academic Profession?
8. Rethinking Academic Careers in a Post-Pandemic World
Appendix 1: Survey Questionnaire
Appendix 2: Topic Guide for First Round of Interviews Autumn 2017 to Spring 2018
Appendix 3: Topic Guide for Second Round of Interviews Autumn 2019 to Spring 2020
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

What makes this book special is how it is able to go beyond the formalities of the observed transformation of academic work, exposing the embedded and less visible practices characterizing academic careers. This is a great read for those wanting to understand the current dynamics taking place in higher education.” —Bjørn Stensaker, Vice-Rector Education, University of Oslo, Norway

“A compelling book, an exciting theoretical underpinning, a richness of survey and interview data. An empirical study of UK academics' changing working conditions, career trajectories, pressures, aspirations and interests. An excellent read!” —Marek Kwiek, Director, Institute for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Poznan, Poland

From the Publisher