Management of academic development of academic staff through the lens of disciplinary sociological theories

The article presents an analysis of management of academic development of academic staff from the perspective of various sociological theories. Theу include the theory of labour alienation, structural functionalism, sociologism, sociological understanding, symbolic interactionism, theory of rationalisation, symbolic interactionism, theories of human capital, trust, habitus, and weak ties. Each of these perspectives has specific features and can be applied to analyse different aspects of the management process. By using a range of the sociological theories, a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involved in the academic development process can be formed. This, in turn, leads to more effective management strategies from university administrators. The article discusses how various aspects of the sociological theories can be applied by university management representatives to improve the academic development process of the academic staff. It emphasises the importance of integrating different approaches to achieve the best results in managing the academic development of these professionals. The author argues that insufficient integration of the sociological theories may negatively affect organisational development of the university and distance it from its strategic priorities. The article is aimed at university management representatives responsible for the strategic and academic development as well as at direct participants of the academic environment and at specialists involved in educational programme design and organisational development.

1. Zborovsky G.E. Theory of social community. Yekaterinburg: Liberal Arts University; 2009. 304 p. (In Russian).

2. Grant B., Lee A., Clegg S., Manathunga C., Barrow M., Kandlbinder P. et al. Why history? Why now? Multiple accounts of the emergence of academic development. International Journal for Academic Development. 2009;1(14):83–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13601440802659551

3. Clegg S. Forms of knowing and academic development practice. Studies in Higher Education. 2009;4(34):403–416. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075070902771937

4. Fraser K. Australasian academic developers’ conceptions of the profession. International Journal for Academic Development. 2001;1(6):54–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13601440110033706

5. Blackwell R., Blackmore P. Rethinking strategic staff development. In: Towards strategic staff development in higher education. Maidenhead: Open University Press; 2003. Pp. 3–16.

6. Brew A. Academic development in a global context. International Journal for Academic Development. 2009;2(14):95–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13601440902969934

7. Di Napoli R., Fry H., Frenay M., Verhesschen P., Verburgh A. Academic development and educational developers: perspectives from different European higher education contexts. International Journal for Academic Development. 2010;1(15):7–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13601440903529851

8. Efimova G.Z. Academic development of scientific and pedagogical workers and its management as a subject of sociological analysis. In: Digital socialisation and digital competence in the context of global systemic changes: regulatory technologies, risks, scenarios: Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, Kazan, May 18–19, 2023. Kazan: Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University; 2023. Pp. 410–414. (In Russian).

9. Chirikov I.S. Academic development in universities: experience of foreign universities. University Management: Practice and Analysis. 2010;5:15–23. (In Russian).

10. Raitskaya L.K., Tikhonova E.V. A university lecturer’ academic development: new readings in the digitalisation milieu. In: Higher education: experience, problems, prospects: Proceedings of the VI International Scientific and Practical conference, part 1, Moscow, March 28–29, 2019. Moscow: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia; 2019. Pр. 17–22. (In Russian).

11. Leibowitz B. Reflections on academic development: what is in a name? International Journal for Academic Development. 2014;4(19):357–360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2014.969978

12. Sutherland K.A. Holistic academic development: is it time to think more broadly about the academic development project? International Journal for Academic Development. 2018;4(23):261–273. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2018.1524571

13. Marx K. Economic and philosophical manuscripts of 1844. Moscow: AST; 2023. 224 p. (In Russian).

14. Matusov E., von Duyke K., Kayumova S. Mapping concepts of agency in educational contexts. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science. 2016;3(50):420–446 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12124-015-9336-0

15. Kulyapina A.M., Fam A.H., Zolotareva A.A. Sence of agency: concept, structure, assessment. Educational Studies Moscow. 2024;1:127–141. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.17323/vo-2024-19790

16. Parsons T. The system of modern societies. Trans. from Eng. L.A. Sedov, A.D. Kovalev. Moscow: Aspect Press; 1998. 270 p. (In Russian).

17. Durkheim E. Sociology. Its subject, method, purpose. Moscow: Urait; 2024. 307 p. (In Russian).

18. Weber M. Selected works. Trans. from Ger. Moscow: Progress; 1990. 804 p. (In Russian).

19. Ionin L.G. Understanding sociology: historical and critical analysis. Moscow: Nauka; 1979. 207 p. (In Russian).

20. Blumer H. The methodological position of symbolic interactionism. In: Symbolic Interactionism. perspective and method. Berkeley: University of California Press; 1969.

21. Fischer S., Dornbusch R., Schmalensee R. Economics. Moscow: Unity; 2002. 864 p. (In Russian).

22. Kelchevskaya N.R., Chernenko I.M., Shirinkina E.V. Formation and development of human capital of scientific and pedagogical staff of higher educational establishments of the RF. Perm University Herald. Economy. 2018;1(13):140–153. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.17072/1994-9960-2018-1-140-153

23. Zborovsky G.E., Ambarova P.A. Trust in higher education as a sociological problem. Sociological Journal. 2018;4(24):93–112. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.19181/socjour.2018.24.4.6099

24. Zborovsky G.E., Ambarova P.A. Trust as principle of behavior strategies of key educational communities at the university. Pedagogical Journal of Bashkortostan. 2019;4(83):32–42. (In Russian).

25. Shiriaev I.M., Fursa E.V., Maskaev A.I., Mokrousova D.I. Trust and institutional traps in education and science. Journal of Economic Regulation. 2019;4(10):146–161. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.17835/2078-5429.2019.10.4.146-1612019;10(4):146-161

26. Rapoport A., Chammah A.M. Prisoner’s dilemma. A study in conflict and cooperation. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; 1965. 258 р.

27. Granovetter M. Economic action and social structure: the problem of embeddedness. American Journal of Sociology. 1985;3(91):481–510.

28. Razov P.V. Institutional approach and possibilities of its application in sociology of management. The Army and Society. 2012;3(31):19–23. (In Russian).

29. Shmatko N.A. “Habitus” in the structure of the sociological theory. The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology. 1998;2(1):60–70. (In Russian).

30. Ermilova A.V. The habitus of the athlete: a sociological interpretation through the prism of P. Bourdieu’s theory. Perm University Herald. Philosophy. Psychology. Sociology. 2022;2:339–349. (In Russian). https://doi.org/10.17072/2078-7898/2022-2-339-349