FE Inc.—business orientation in further education and the introduction of human resource management

Abstract

A major consequence of the increasing business orientation of the British further education (FE) system has been the introduction of human resource management (HRM) strategies. HRM is a concept formerly used almost exclusively in a business context. FE, of all educational sectors, has always been closely tied in, strategically and operationally, to the needs of business and industry. Incorporation can be seen both as a consequence and a development of this increasingly close relationship, and it is argued that whilst HRM strategies help college managers meet the system demands of incorporation, they at the same time underline and help to bring about the marginalisation of pedagogic orientations at both strategic and operational levels.