'Research Culture Work' in UK Higher Education: Ethos and Configurations of an Emerging Field

• In Event: 20420 - Section on Sociology of Culture Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 7: Culture, Labor, and Meaning Making at Work

Abstract

In recent years, there has been growing attention to the importance of research culture for both the wellbeing of researchers and the conduct of research. This focus has been particularly pronounced in the UK higher education sector, where initiatives such as surveys, events, and action plans focused on research culture improvement have proliferated. As part of this, several universities have created new roles and teams dedicated to furthering these initiatives. But while the focus on research culture looks set to become an established agenda in UK higher education, the sector remains shaped by diverse interpretations of what the agenda entails, and how it should be translated into practice.

This talk presents qualitative research on how 'research culture work' is taking shape as a field within UK higher education, drawing on semi-structured interviews conducted between October 2023 and January 2024 with university employees tasked with leading research culture initiatives at their institutions. It examines how these individuals perceive their roles, navigate institutional complexities, and respond to the challenges and tensions inherent in their work. The analysis centres on three key themes: people (the kinds of people leading the work and the backgrounds they come from); configurations (how research culture leaders are situated within university structures and what roles they have); and ethos (the dispositions, motivations, and values characteristic of people shaping the field).

By investigating actors, reasonings, and values central to the research culture agenda in UK academia, the paper also seeks to contribute to a broader understanding of current trends and discussions in the cultural politics of higher education.

Author

• Annika Klæmintsdóttir Olsen, University of Copenhagen