Protecting academic freedom in changing times
The role of Heads of Departments
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10106321 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Anne Qualter (University of Liverpool, corresponding author), Ian Willis (0000-0001-8663-6752, University of Liverpool) |
| Year | 2012 |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 121-139 |
| Publication date | 2012-04-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Educational Administration & History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-0620 • E-ISSN: 1478-7431 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00220620.2012.658765 |
| OpenAlex | W2006283563 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
In changing times for higher education that are dominated by a neoliberal ideology, we set out to uncover how Heads of Departments (HoDs) perceive their role with respect to supporting their staff and their academic freedom. Freedom to pursue academic research is seen as key to the generation of new knowledge yet it is potentially constrained by funding regimes and university accountability systems. As HoDs operate at the interface between university systems and individual academic projects, how they perceive their role can have a profound influence on the working environment of their departmental staff. The research study is located in two successful departments in a research intensive university in England. The study shows that the HoDs were not captured by the neoliberal discourse and aimed to protect their staff so they could ‘get on with their work’. In so doing they interpreted university demands to the best advantage of their departments but were not active in challenging university driven changes, thus raising questions about the effects of accommodating to change, so risking incremental change, and of how less successful departments might be able to protect their staff and their academic freedom
Academic freedom · Accountability · Higher education · Ideology · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Set (abstract data type · Sociology · Work (physics · Computer Science · Engineering · Higher Education Governance and Development · Higher Education Practises and Engagement · Law
Academic middle leaders, middle leading and middle leadership of university learning and teaching
Disciplinary representation on institutional websites
Ethical responsibilities of tenured academics supervising non-tenured researchers in times of neoliberalism and precarity
Perceived managerial and leadership effectiveness within higher education in France
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,33 |
| Citation span | 2014 - 2023 (10) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |