Saira Weiner - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Saira Weiner
This paper draws on autobiographical interviews of a mother and daughter concerning their experie... more This paper draws on autobiographical interviews of a mother and daughter concerning their experiences of working in higher education to explore the changes in university teaching and research in the UK and also the possibilities of challenging prevalent normative assumptions about aims and purpose. It uses the qualitative methodology of narrative enquiry, particularly in its focus on temporality, sociality and place, to create a coconstructed account which is able to expose critical events, possibilities and limitations for higher education 'activists' in the recent past and present. It will be shown that the quality of the relationship between the two researcher-participants had a significant impact on the quality of the data generated, and that together the relationship and methodology promoted interpretation and analysis in 'uncommonly accelerated ways' (Carillo & Baguley, 2011). At the same time, it created moments of discomfort and misunderstandings about ideological perceptions. It was found that while there were some similarities at least initially between the experiences of the two interviewees in their capacities both to perform to work expectations and to take an activist position, substantial differences were identified due, in particular, to generational intellectual schisms as well as shifts in higher education from elitist institutions promoting public good to mass, neo-liberal institutions with performative and institutional goals and practices. The European dream of becoming 'the most competitive and knowledge-based economy of the world' (European Council, 2000) has marked the transformation and modernisation of social welfare and education systems…. When policies and institutional practices based on competence, efficiency and competition are stressed, ideals such as equity and social community tend to become secondary (Arnesan, 2011) 1 Introduction: This paper explores the changing historical context of university teaching and research in the UK and how possibilities of challenging dominant assumptions about aims and purpose have shifted over the decades. Changes that we have seen include: the shift from elite to mass higher education, reduction (per capita) in financial resources, increased commodification of knowledge, competition and privatisation, increased accountability and quality assurance measures, increase in mobility of people, knowledge and consumer choice, and speeded up
This special issue of SPARK on Black Lives Matter presents student work that aims either to promo... more This special issue of SPARK on Black Lives Matter presents student work that aims either to promote the importance of Black lives or to challenge the systems that result in Black lives being treated inequitably. It is a collective endeavour to critique racial inequality. As we write this editorial, the world is in the midst of the global Coronavirus pandemic. This pandemic has highlighted unjust differences in health and wellbeing between different groups of people. Evidence shows that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK are both at increased risk of infection and increased risk of mortality from Coronavirus. Whilst research
Pedagogy, Culture & Society
En Clave Pedagogica Revista Internacional De Investigacion E Innovacion Educativa, 2013
Journal of In-service Education, 2005
Cfbt Education Trust, 2013
Education Trust has commissioned a series of reviews of international literature. These reviews c... more Education Trust has commissioned a series of reviews of international literature. These reviews cover a range of topics related to school improvement including assessment for learning; the inclusion of students with special educational needs; effective teaching
This paper draws on autobiographical interviews of a mother and daughter concerning their experie... more This paper draws on autobiographical interviews of a mother and daughter concerning their experiences of working in higher education to explore the changes in university teaching and research in the UK and also the possibilities of challenging prevalent normative assumptions about aims and purpose. It uses the qualitative methodology of narrative enquiry, particularly in its focus on temporality, sociality and place, to create a coconstructed account which is able to expose critical events, possibilities and limitations for higher education 'activists' in the recent past and present. It will be shown that the quality of the relationship between the two researcher-participants had a significant impact on the quality of the data generated, and that together the relationship and methodology promoted interpretation and analysis in 'uncommonly accelerated ways' (Carillo & Baguley, 2011). At the same time, it created moments of discomfort and misunderstandings about ideological perceptions. It was found that while there were some similarities at least initially between the experiences of the two interviewees in their capacities both to perform to work expectations and to take an activist position, substantial differences were identified due, in particular, to generational intellectual schisms as well as shifts in higher education from elitist institutions promoting public good to mass, neo-liberal institutions with performative and institutional goals and practices. The European dream of becoming 'the most competitive and knowledge-based economy of the world' (European Council, 2000) has marked the transformation and modernisation of social welfare and education systems…. When policies and institutional practices based on competence, efficiency and competition are stressed, ideals such as equity and social community tend to become secondary (Arnesan, 2011) 1 Introduction: This paper explores the changing historical context of university teaching and research in the UK and how possibilities of challenging dominant assumptions about aims and purpose have shifted over the decades. Changes that we have seen include: the shift from elite to mass higher education, reduction (per capita) in financial resources, increased commodification of knowledge, competition and privatisation, increased accountability and quality assurance measures, increase in mobility of people, knowledge and consumer choice, and speeded up
This special issue of SPARK on Black Lives Matter presents student work that aims either to promo... more This special issue of SPARK on Black Lives Matter presents student work that aims either to promote the importance of Black lives or to challenge the systems that result in Black lives being treated inequitably. It is a collective endeavour to critique racial inequality. As we write this editorial, the world is in the midst of the global Coronavirus pandemic. This pandemic has highlighted unjust differences in health and wellbeing between different groups of people. Evidence shows that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK are both at increased risk of infection and increased risk of mortality from Coronavirus. Whilst research
Pedagogy, Culture & Society
En Clave Pedagogica Revista Internacional De Investigacion E Innovacion Educativa, 2013
Journal of In-service Education, 2005
Cfbt Education Trust, 2013
Education Trust has commissioned a series of reviews of international literature. These reviews c... more Education Trust has commissioned a series of reviews of international literature. These reviews cover a range of topics related to school improvement including assessment for learning; the inclusion of students with special educational needs; effective teaching