Zombie Universities and Happy Academics: Negotiating ‘Excellence’ in the Measured University
Professor Martha Caddell
Two intertwined trends offer a useful route into exploring this contested landscape of success. Firstly, we see the colourful characterisation and critique of the ‘zombification’ of higher education, focused on the perceived ‘toxic’ and corroding effects of the current condition of higher education (Smyth 2017, Whelan et al 2013, Murphy 2017). The zombie trope is used to highlight the uncritical acceptance of managerialism, measures and language within policy and practice, and – indeed – models of teaching and learning that “refuse to die and keep coming back” (Grove 2018).
Such constant exposure to comparison and pressure to ‘be excellent’ results in academic staff having to negotiate complex demands and consider which aspects of their role to prioritise. This leads us to the second trend: the growth of what could be termed academic ‘self-help’ resources, books and training to support academics navigate their complex workloads, to “write no matter what”, and find meaning – and even “happiness” - in their academic life (Clark & Sousa 2018, Jensen 2017). Such emphasis focuses largely on self-management and contributes to the “hyper individualization” of academic careers and success (Kandiko Howson et al 2018).
Using these two trends as a springboard, this lecture will explore the contradictory, messy and refractory effects of the promotion of ‘excellence’ in higher education. Drawing on a recent study of how mid and early career academics negotiate their work (Caddell & Wilder 2018), it explores the intertwining of discourses of success, value and collegiality. Giving voice to these everyday transcripts and experiences, the session will cast light on how efforts to promote excellence and enhancement impact on practices and relationships within the university and will challenge us to consider what – practically – we can do to focus on what matters from what is measured in university learning & teaching.
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