Exploring faculty experiences in a striving university through the lens of academic capitalism

Abstract

In this paper, we draw from academic capitalism to explore the work lives and experiences of faculty who work in a striving university. Our analysis suggests that faculty members feel pressures induced by academic capitalism, including a lack of space, no time and the sense of constant surveillance. Our work adds to the theoretical as well as empirical discussions concerning striving, academic capitalism and the impacts of both on the academic profession.

Keywords:

• faculty members
• neoliberalism
• academic work and identity
• organisational behaviour
• rankings

Notes

1. A pseudonym that means ‘hope’ in the Spanish language.

2. Tier-one is a concept that is loosely used in the field of higher education to indicate top tier or elite universities that are also major research universities.