Short-term, short-changed? A temporal perspective on the implications of academic casualisation for teaching in higher education

Leathwood, C. and Read, B. (2022) Short-term, short-changed? A temporal perspective on the implications of academic casualisation for teaching in higher education. Teaching in Higher Education, 27(6), pp. 756-771. (doi: 10.1080/13562517.2020.1742681)

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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.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Read, Professor Barbara
Authors: Leathwood, C., and Read, B.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Educational Leadership & Policy
College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Professional Learning and Leadership
Journal Name:Teaching in Higher Education
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:1356-2517
ISSN (Online):1470-1294
Published Online:23 March 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 Taylor & Francis
First Published:First published in Teaching in Higher Education 27(6): 756-771
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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