Understanding academic agency in curriculum change in higher education
Annala, Johanna; Lindén, Jyri; Mäkinen, Marita; Henriksson, Jonna (2021-02-08)
Annala, Johanna
Lindén, Jyri
Mäkinen, Marita
Henriksson, Jonna
08.02.2021
TEACHING IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202102152089
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202102152089
Kuvaus
Peer reviewed
Tiivistelmä
This study explores the agency of academics and the structures that enable or impede agency in curriculum change. The study was conducted at a research university that experienced curriculum change in two waves: the first on a departmental level, and the second as a university-wide curriculum change. Interviews were conducted with the same academics after both waves. Thematic analysis generated six forms of agency. Progressive, oppositional, territorial, bridge-building, and accommodating agency appeared in both contexts. Powerless agency was identified in only the university-wide curriculum change. Individual, community, and institutional structures enabled or impeded agency. Instead of focusing on the micro or macro levels exclusively, this study highlights the interwovenness of structural-agentic processes, including the critical role of social cultures and relationships, and reveal how academic freedom is used in many ways as room for manoeuvring in curriculum changes.
Kokoelmat
- TUNICRIS-julkaisut [16740]