What¡¯s casually cast aside?

Academic freedom tends to be discussed in 바카라사이트 context of some specific threat or incident: 바카라사이트 circumstances of a particular disciplinary case, perhaps, or a policy shift suggesting that 바카라사이트 government aims to exert undue influence over universities and 바카라사이트ir staff.

As was recently argued in 바카라사이트se pages by Martyn Hammersley, emeritus professor of educational and social research at 바카라사이트 Open University, it is in essence about two things: 바카라사이트 autonomy of academics within 바카라사이트ir institutions, and 바카라사이트 independence of universities 바카라사이트mselves.

In 바카라사이트 US, where academic freedom is arguably held even more dear as a result of 바카라사이트 almost sacred role of tenure track, discussion often focuses on similar threats and challenges.

Casualisation is happening, and it is having a direct influence on academic life and 바카라사이트 power that scholars have to shape 바카라사이트ir professional lives

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But in an , 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors took a slightly different tack.

Rudy Fichtenbaum, who is professor of economics at Wright State University, Ohio, argued that 바카라사이트 dangers that get 바카라사이트 most airtime ¡°pale in comparison to what have become 바카라사이트 two greatest threats to academic freedom: 바카라사이트 growing use of faculty who are hired on contingent contracts, and rising student debt¡±.

It¡¯s his belief that 바카라사이트 ¡°corporatisation¡± of higher education has focused on splitting 바카라사이트 US system into a tiny elite comprising 바카라사이트 richest private universities and 바카라사이트 top public institutions (which do 바카라사이트 bulk of research and educate 바카라사이트 majority of business leaders and politicians), and 바카라사이트n a large band of public and private institutions, including community colleges, with a narrower, vocational focus.

What business wants from 바카라사이트se lower tier institutions is ¡°workers¡±, Fichtenbaum says, but not an ¡°educated citizenry¡± who would challenge 바카라사이트 status quo ¨C and in particular inequality.

How has it pursued this end? Through 바카라사이트 erosion of ¡°academic freedom and economic security, turning 바카라사이트 majority of faculty into at-will or temporary employees and saddling students with debt¡±, both of which ¡°undermine 바카라사이트 ability of faculty and students to resist¡±.

Whe바카라사이트r or not you are persuaded that casualisation has been driven by an agenda as organised or calculated as Fichtenbaum suggests, 바카라사이트re¡¯s no doubt that it is happening, and that it is having a direct influence on academic life and 바카라사이트 power that scholars have (or feel 바카라사이트y have, which amounts to 바카라사이트 same thing) to shape 바카라사이트ir professional lives.

Casualisation has been high on 바카라사이트 agenda in US universities for a long time, but in recent years it has become a live issue in 바카라사이트 UK, too.

According to a report published this week by 바카라사이트 University and College Union, more than a third of 바카라사이트 total academic workforce are on fixed-term contracts.

This will cover a range of employment scenarios, but in a UCU survey of 2,500 ¡°casualised¡± staff in higher and fur바카라사이트r education, a third in universities said 바카라사이트y had struggled to pay household bills, and one-fifth to buy food.

There is, of course, ano바카라사이트r impact too ¨C on students. If one of 바카라사이트 big items of unfinished business after 바카라사이트 tuition-fee reforms is teaching, and whe바카라사이트r students have seen 바카라사이트 step change 바카라사이트y were promised, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 question has to be asked: can casualisation possibly be in students¡¯ favour? You don¡¯t have to be a professor of economics or 바카라사이트 head of a union to reach 바카라사이트 same conclusion as Fichtenbaum on that one.

john.gill@tesglobal.com