The UK higher education senior management survey: a statactivist response to managerialist governance. Issue 11 (2nd November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Erickson, Mark; Hanna, Paul; Walker, Carl
• Is Part Of: Studies in higher education. Volume 46:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 2134
• Page End: 2151
• Publication Date: 2021-11-02
• Subjects: Higher education -- higher education management -- academic labour process -- statactivism -- mental health -- staff satisfaction; Education, Higher -- Periodicals; 378.005
• DOI: 10.1080/03075079.2020.1712693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-5079

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we present results from an extensive survey of United Kingdom (UK) university academics investigating satisfaction with senior managers and university governance: the Senior Management Survey (SMS). In total, 5888 academic staff across the United Kingdom Higher Education (HE) sector completed the survey, and results were used to construct a league table of staff satisfaction with management. This table is a stark indictment of the current state of the UK HE sector, showing a mean satisfaction score of 10.54%. The SMS also collected qualitative data, and we extend the league table's insights using these data. Thematic analysis revealed seven major themes: the dominance and brutality of metrics; excessive workload; governance and accountability; perpetual change; vanity projects; the silenced academic; work and mental health. We conclude with a discussion of how this statactivist research can be used to bring about change in management and governance of UK HE.