Changes of academic identities in UK universities

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief, accessible introduction to the changes in identities of universities and their academic staff in the United Kingdom (UK). These are Heads of Universities, their senior officers, Heads of Departments (HoDs) and lecturers. However, identity is an elusive, polymorphous concept so at the outset of this chapter, we provide our conception of identity. Put simply, we regard identity as concerned with how we see ourselves and our others see us. Changes in identity are described, wherever possible, in terms of demographic characteristics, changes in roles and tasks and changes in perceptions of identities and self-perceptions. These changes include changes in identities within subjects and the influence of changes in academic staff training. All of these have changed for academic staff in universities as the identities and functions of universities have changed. This chapter examines the changes in identity of academic staff, including vice chancellors, senior staff, HoDs and lecturers. The term ‘identity’ in this chapter refers to how people see themselves and how other people see them. These changes in identity of staff are influenced by the changes in the universities, particularly since World War 1. These in their turn have been affected by changes in governmental policy from promoting collegial approaches to their firm insistence on neoliberal economic policies. This insistence has led to the removal of many organisations, tighter control over research and teaching, learning and assessment and the introduction of hefty student fees. Other changes which influence academic identities are the relationships between employers and academics, subject identities and academic staff training and development. The chapter ends with an overview and a discussion of further possible avenues of research on academic identity. These include limitations of both collegiality and neoliberalism and the effects on student recruitment of schooling and other community services.