Responding to theoretical, analytical and methodological challenges in higher education research- alternative approaches

Janja Komljenovič and Sintayehu Kassaye Alemu and Jana Baćević and Vanja Ivosevic and Miguel Antonio Lim and Pavel Zgaga and Roger Dale (2014) Responding to theoretical, analytical and methodological challenges in higher education research- alternative approaches. In: EERA Conference The past, present and future of educational research in Europe (2014 ; Porto), 1 Sep - 5 Sep 2014, Porto.

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Abstract

Although there is a significant body of research on higher education, much of this research has been developed through comparative studies of national higher education systems and has been underpinned by policy, organisational change and institutionalism theories and approaches, e.g. it is looking at national or regional policy messages, how expectations are changing, the emergence of so called third mission of universities and so on. However, today when the reconfiguration of the state is evident through several areas of transformation: (1) economic transformation, (2) political transformation, (3) transformation of sovereignty and (4) transformation of the (political) community, theoretical and analytical approaches to higher education research need to be developed to account for a more complex reality. This panel takes this challenge seriously, arguing that a critical theory approach helps raise questions about the basic premises upon which research is performed, helps to think about new approaches to challenge such taken for granted assumptions and is always looking for adapted analytical and methodological conceptualisations. The symposia will argue that we need a new conceptual framework in higher education research that would provide answers to questions like: what are the processes that are transforming higher education, who do they work for, why and with what consequences. The symposia will offer papers which will try to show examples of alternative approaches to higher education research that share a broad commitment to critical theory.

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