Short-term, short-changed? A temporal perspective on the implications of academic casualisation for teaching in higher education. Issue 6 (18th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leathwood, Carole; Read, Barbara
• Is Part Of: Teaching in higher education. Volume 27:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 756
• Page End: 771
• Publication Date: 2022-08-18
• Subjects: Academics -- casualisation -- temporality -- pedagogy -- student-lecturer relationship; College teaching -- Periodicals; Education, Higher -- Evaluation -- Periodicals; Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- Periodicals; 378.1205
• DOI: 10.1080/13562517.2020.1742681
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-2517

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The increasing casualisation of academic labour over recent years has been noted across the global north. In the UK, this takes a number of forms, including fixed term, hourly paid and zero hours contracts. What tends to characterise them all, however, is a focus on the short-term. In this paper, we draw on a qualitative study with 20 UK-based academics on casualised contracts to consider the implications of the short-term nature of such employment for teaching and pedagogy. We come to this with a temporal perspective, in part in response to Felt's call for a chronopolitical analysis of the changing temporalities of academia. We discuss how short-term temporal logics marked by last-minute or 'just-in-time' modalities can be seen to impact negatively on teaching preparation and pedagogical relationships, raising questions about innovation and criticality, power and in/security, continuity and care.