Ethnographies of higher education: researching and reflecting “at home”
CALL FOR PAPERS
22-24 May 2013, Prague, Czech Republic
Keynote speakers:
Wesley Shumar (Drexel University); Paul Trowler (Lancaster University);
Susan Wright (Aarhus University)
In recent years there has been a surge of interest in ethnographic studies
of higher education. Not only are anthropologists turning their attention
to the study of higher education but also higher education researchers
from various theoretical and methodological backgrounds are employing
ethnography as a valuable approach to studying multiple facets, sites, and
themes of higher education, be it the formation and enactment of
governance and policies, knowledge practices, learning and teaching,
identities, or academics’ and students’ lives. At the same time, the
conference recognizes significant changes in the field of higher education
today that are globally transforming not only the social, material and
technological conditions and institutional frameworks of knowledge
production, transmission and translation, but also affecting the very
modes of knowing. We believe ethnographic approaches are a key research
strategy for understanding these changes.
The conference aims to bring together researchers interested and actively
involved in qualitative, primarily ethnographic, research on higher
education institutions, policies and practices, and to provide space for
critical discussion and debate. We also aim to prepare a publication or
series of publications to bring these insights to the broader academic
public.
We propose three major foci – and welcome more.
1. Politics, positionality and engagement
“Reforms” of, and changes in, higher education may be discussed,
questioned, fought for and against, or they may take place in a more
invisible manner. What are the possible roles of higher education research
in that dynamic? How is ethnographic participation linked with policy and
politics, activism and engagement? How are the roles of researchers,
experts, and activists played out in different times and different
settings? And from the other end, how do the multiple positions higher
education researchers simultaneously occupy in the field (such as
students, teachers, administrators, parents etc.) influence the framing of
education research?
2. Diversity of the field and comparative practices
The field of higher education is diverse – in terms of disciplines,
qualities, institutional forms. As such it is subject to various types of
comparisons and rankings, made by agencies, ministries, media, students,
academics, higher education institutions, and ultimately by us, higher
education researchers. Since we are often critical of such comparisons and
rankings, we need to examine explicitly our own epistemic practices of
comparing in theoretical framing or field study designs. What role does
(Western) social theory play in studying higher education in different
parts of world? How do we deal with heterogeneity of the field during the
course of a study and in textual representations?
3. Ethnographic effects
In a special strand we propose to reflect on and debate ethnography as an
epistemic approach to the study of higher education: its possibilities
(and possible limits), politics and practices. This will have a format of
a special methodological workshop within the conference. We welcome short
contributions (2 to 10 minutes) on various topics related to fieldwork
(reflexivity, ethics, access, being/going native etc.). The aim of the
workshop is to share and discuss field experiences and explore potential
intersecting topics emerging in the course of the discussions.
Conference fees
Conference fees include registration, welcome reception on Wednesday
evening, and lunch and snacks on Thursday and Friday.
Standard: EUR 100
Students and doctoral candidates: EUR 50
It is possible to waive the fee for participants from lower-income
countries and/or for participants in lower-paid positions without access
to other sources of funding. To request a waiver, please send a letter
(300-500 words) to the organizers explaining why you are not in a position
to cover the fee.
The conference programme board
Jana Baćević (Central European University)
Manja Klemenčič (Harvard University / University of Ljubljana)
Jan Nespor (Ohio State University)
Petr Pabian (University of Pardubice)
Tereza Stöckelová (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic)
Practical information
Travel and accommodation: Prague airport serves direct flights from all
European capitals and many other European cities. Within Central Europe,
Prague is also easily reachable by train. As a popular tourist
destination, Prague offers a wealth of accommodation opportunities from
budget hostels starting below 20 € per night up to luxury hotels. More
information will be available on the conference website.
Conference venue: The conference will take place at the Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic and Charles University.
Programme framework: The conference will start with an evening public
lecture on Wednesday, May 22. Thursday and Friday programme will start
with a plenary keynote, followed by paper presentations. The Friday
afternoon will be dedicated to the methodological workshop.
See conference website http://www.ethe.cz for further information.
The conference is supported by the Czech Science Foundation within the
research project “Ethnography of University Departments: Mass Higher
Education in Institutional Settings” (http://www.csvs.cz/ETUDE).