Value gaming and political ontology: between resistance and compliance in academic development

Abstract

This introductory article aims to problematize notions of agency, compliance, and resistance in academic development, and brings into the arena the concept of ‘political ontology.’ This term refers here to the sets of values academic developers import into their work and how these values may or may not be enacted in their own institutional space. The article opens with an overview of the complex positioning of academic developers in current higher education systems, proceeds to examine notions of agency, value gaming, and political ontology in academic development, and concludes with an affirmation of the importance of political ontology for academic development.

Keywords:

• compliance
• game
• political ontology
• resistance
• values

Acknowledgements

Thanks go to all the colleagues in Part 1 of this special issue for their engagement and suggestions. Thanks to the reviewers also for their very important advice as this article was taking its final shape.