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Assessment Policy and “Pockets of Freedom” in a Neoliberal University. A Foucauldian Perspective

Raaper, R.

Assessment Policy and “Pockets of Freedom” in a Neoliberal University. A Foucauldian Perspective Thumbnail


Authors



Contributors

C. Manathunga
Editor

D. Bottrell
Editor

Abstract

Guided by a Foucauldian theorisation, this chapter conducts a discourse analysis of assessment policy documents in one neoliberalised UK university. Furthermore, it traces the ways in which academics and graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) as assessors negotiate this policy space. The findings demonstrate that the assessment policy has become increasingly restrictive but also ambiguous in the university. It includes a high number of policy documents, a wide range of assessment stakeholders and increasingly abstract language of instruction. However, the findings also suggest that this policy ambiguity is not utterly negative but can be exploited by academics and GTAs, allowing them to have some ownership over assessment processes and their own subjectivities as assessors.

Citation

Raaper, R. (2019). Assessment Policy and “Pockets of Freedom” in a Neoliberal University. A Foucauldian Perspective. In C. Manathunga, & D. Bottrell (Eds.), Resisting neoliberalism in higher education. Volume II. Prising open the cracks (155--175). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95834-7_8

Acceptance Date Nov 22, 2017
Online Publication Date Dec 19, 2019
Publication Date 2019
Deposit Date Dec 5, 2017
Publicly Available Date Dec 19, 2020
Publisher Palgrave Macmillan
Pages 155--175
Series Title Palgrave critical University studies
Edition 1st
Book Title Resisting neoliberalism in higher education. Volume II. Prising open the cracks.
ISBN 9783319958330
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95834-7_8

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Copyright Statement
Raaper, R. (2019). Assessment Policy and “Pockets of Freedom” in a Neoliberal University. A Foucauldian Perspective. In Resisting Neoliberalism in Higher Education. Volume II - Prising Open the Cracks. Manathunga, C. & Bottrell, D. Palgrave Macmillan. II: 155-175 reproduced with permission of Palgrave Macmillan. This extract is taken from the author's original manuscript and has not been edited. The definitive, published, version of record is available here: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95834-7_8





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