“Further education, future prosperity? The Implications of Marketisation on Further Education Working Practices”

Illsley, Rachael; Waller, Richard

Abstract

© 2017 Association for Research in Post-Compulsory Education (ARPCE). This paper examines how the marketised funding system of vocational further education is affecting lecturers’ working practices and professional integrity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a number of lecturing staff and managers within two vocational areas at an English FE college to examine the implications of working under the current funding regime. The conclusions drawn reflect the complexity of working within FE showing how lecturers are frequently placed in a professional dilemma between securing future funding (by ensuring high levels of retention and achievement) and compromising their professional integrity and working practices in order to do so. A key finding here was the inherent tension between professional integrity and funding requirements apparently directly opposing ‘good’ practice. This means FE professionals experience what Whitehead called ‘a living contradiction’ in their working lives, increasing stress levels and diminishing their sense of professionalism.

Citation

Illsley, R., & Waller, R. (2017). “Further education, future prosperity? The Implications of Marketisation on Further Education Working Practices”. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 22(4), 477-494. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2017.1381291

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 13, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Dec 13, 2017
• Publication Date: Oct 2, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 13, 2019
• Journal: Research in Post-Compulsory Education
• Print ISSN: 1359-6748
• Electronic ISSN: 1747-5112
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 477-494
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2017.1381291
• Keywords: further education, FE, FE funding, marketisation, professional integrity, living contradiction, vocational education
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/902263
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2017.1381291
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Research in Post-Compulosry Education on 13th December 2017, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2017.1381291.