How to Mend a University - by Ian M Kinchin (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This book builds on established ecological models that can be applied to social systems, particularly the adaptive cycle. It links these ideas to key theoretical stances from across the educational literature to create an epistemological consilience across the divide between structuralist-poststructuralist educational research literatures. It is written with a consideration of the practical moves that can be undertaken within an institution to develop a healthier environment in which sustainable pedagogies can be nurtured. Kinchin argues that the ecological university may be seen as a way to 'mend' the current system so institutions can justify the use of popular terms like sustainability, inclusivity and wellbeing in an ecologically authentic and demonstrable way"--

Book Synopsis

Many contemporary commentators present a damning account of the current state of higher education, to the extent that our universities may be considered to be broken.This book offers an alternative perspective to the dominant neoliberal discourse and provides the conceptual tools to help construct a trajectory of repair for our universities. These ideas are presented within this book as five moves to transform our current pathological situation and develop towards a more healthy and sustainable ecological learning environment.

In this book, Ian Kinchin draws upon a wide range of sources from the philosophy of education, biological and clinical sciences as well as educational research and academic development. This alternative ecology of ideas presents a challenge to university leaders and asks if we care enough about the future of our universities to encourage an evolution of practice that deals sustainably with the wicked problems our universities face in the coming century. It describes a move towards an ecological university.

The book includes a foreword written by Martyn Kingsbury, Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship, Imperial College London, UK.

Review Quotes

"This book presents a trenchant approach to dismantling the neoliberal university discourse. Navigating diverse theories, the author envisions the ecological university, crucial amid societal shifts. Their disruptive ideas and innovative perspectives emerge as pivotal for higher education's transformation." --Paulo Rogério Miranda Correia, Professor in the School of Arts, Science and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Brazil

"By drawing on biological constructs, and undertaking an institutional natural history, Ian Kinchin offers a fresh and exciting analysis of the 'ecologically-sick' university, and proposes five steps towards an ecological university. Its novel application of health-sciences and biological concepts shines light on how to 'mend' the careless atrophy in the system and is essential reading for all of us who care deeply about our work but increasingly dislike our jobs in higher education." --Sally Baker, Associate Professor in Migration and Education, Australian National University, Australia

About the Author

Ian M. Kinchin is Emeritus Professor in Higher Education in the Surrey Institute of Education at the University of Surrey, UK.