Efeitos da intensificação do trabalho no ensino superior: da fragmentação à articulação entre investigação, ensino, gestão académica e transferência de conhecimento

Abstract

Contemporary higher education is characterized by continuing alterations, asthe educational system tends to follow economic, political and social changesin Portugal. In consequence, external factors reconfigure universitiesconcerns, structures and goals. These changes have a considerable impact onacademic work while higher education teachers have to respond to new tasks.Therefore, academic identity may be reconstructed. This study aims atunderstanding the academic identity related with the four areas of academicwork – teaching, research, leadership activities and knowledge exchange – inthe current changing higher education context. Focus group and biographicalnarratives were conducted as methodological strategies. The participantswere academics of a Department of Education in a Portuguese publicuniversity. Results highlight work intensification as a defining feature ofacademic identity. Through data analysis, it is also possible to identify thedesire of articulating the four areas of academic work in order to break up withthe work fragmentation.