Author:

Keywords:

academic development, identity, Social Sciences, Education & Educational Research, educational development, European Area of Higher Education, professional identity, comparative perspective, 1301 Education Systems, 1303 Specialist Studies in Education, 3903 Education systems, 3904 Specialist studies in education

Abstract:

This paper reports research in five European universities, in four countries between 2004 and 2008. The research explored and compared institutional contexts for academic development and the interpretations and reflections of a number of academic developers on the organizational position and role of academic development, and of 'developers'. A nuanced notion of 'service', commitment to scholarship, (inter)disciplinary flexibility, a strong ethos of learner-centredness and care for and support of both students and academics come to the fore across national and institutional boundaries. Evident, too, is the idea of a diversified profession in development, emergence and consolidation.