Ismail, Ismi Arif (2005) Moving on in academia : exploring the career experiences of professors at a UK university. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This study was aimed at providing a better understanding of academic socialisation.
Informed by a biographical research approach, the study explored the career experiences
of 12 professors from 12 academic departments at a UK university through a series of indepth,
semi-structured qualitative interviewing interviews, documentary analysis and a
literature review. It set out to highlight how the academics in the study reflexively
construct their academic identities and to provide some answers to the question: What is
the history of how people have come to be professors?
This study suggests that the transformation of these individuals' identities as academics
was the outcome of active participation in various communities of practice throughout
their careers. Academics continuously learn to position themselves within the various
communities of practice that they choose to participate in. The professors' career stories
reveal how they make sense and negotiate their identities as academics through
accommodating with the power relations, ideology, cultures and ways embedded within
the communities of practice of which they are members. Instead of looking at academics
as passive participants, the findings provide evidence of individuals' voluntarism and
agency in constructing their academic identities.
This study contributes to the continuing discussion on academic socialisation through
describing the experiences of academics moving through different stages in their careers.
The in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviewing approach offers a fuller
appreciation of the challenges and opportunities involved in academic socialisation.
Demystifying the career experiences of academics may benefit others in academia in
navigating their future career undertakings.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	College teachers -- Great Britain -- Case studies, Career development -- Great Britain -- Case studies
Official Date:	August 2005
Dates:	Date Event August 2005 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Institute of Education
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Tight, Malcolm
Sponsors:	Universiti Putra Malaysia ; Malaysia. Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam [Public Service Dept.]
Extent:	x, 304 leaves
Language:	eng

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