BJSE Navigating the Neoliberal University.pdf (425.39 kB)
Navigating the neoliberal university: reflecting on teaching practice as a teacher-researcher-trade unionist
This article reflects upon the neoliberalisation of higher education and its effects on teaching practice. It is argued that a neoliberal discourse of teaching excellence has the effect of working against, and potentially undermining, the emancipatory potential of higher education. The article reflects upon attempts to navigate disciplinary power in the neoliberal university and considers whether critical, emancipatory praxis is possible or if complicity in, and co-option by, neoliberalism is inevitable. Ultimately, it is concluded that individual teachers have some scope to pursue approaches which counter neoliberal dominance but that this is heavily constrained. A broader, collective, project will therefore be necessary if alternative (critical, emancipatory) visions of teaching and learning in higher education are to successfully challenge neoliberal hegemony and the negative effects of this in the academy.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
British Journal of Sociology of EducationISSN
0142-5692Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
4Volume
41Page range
574-590Department affiliated with
- Law Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes