I have only been part of this list-serve for a week, and I have not noticed contributions from academics who are NOT involved in support areas of universities. In a way that makes sense, but from my point of view it is NOT a cause for joy. I thought there would be more interest from run-of-the-mill discipline area teacher-researchers, it is not a healthy sign that they are absent to this degree.

I have been pondering questions of group-think as well as the preponderance of self-congratulation in our cultures of late, and also the creeping advance of self-advertisement in university email systems. It would be interesting to know what is shaping this sensibility, but where it is already dominant I wonder if it may be best to depersonalise the way we ask people to think about and contribute to discussion topics. There are lots of areas of life where interviews and questionnaires are of little or no help and some thinking (spending time with a question) is required.

Having once worked for a national bureau of statistics I came to really appreciate the importance of running pilot surveys as well as follow up calls. "Out there" there were all kinds of wild and wooly understandings of the questions we sent out.

I wonder if we would be able instead to devise an enlightening definition of "joy", and one that does not resort to example or metaphor (the "Love is when...." genre)? That might be fulfilling. On the other hand, if it is not what Martin was after it is unfair of me to hijack things in that direction, and he can ask that everyone "address the set topic".

Mark Stevenson
Senior Lecturer, Asian Studies
College of Arts
Victoria University, Melbourne

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From: learning development in higher education network [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of John Hilsdon [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2013 4:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: joy and fulfilment!

For me, working as a learning developer, whether with students, LD colleagues or other staff, has given me tremendous joy and fulfilment over the last decade – in ways similar to ones many of you have already outlined, and especially when receiving rich feedback. I can’t think of any line of work I’d prefer.

 

My fervent hope is that LD will continue to survive in whatever ways possible – whether above or below the ‘radar’ – that baleful eye of power driven by ‘bottom-line’ management in universities operating as commercial operations rather as institutions for whom education, research and knowledge creation is the raison d'être …

 

Good luck and restful weekends everyone

 

John

 

 

From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mary Dickinson
Sent: 04 October 2013 19:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: joy and fulfilment!

 

OK, given all replies welcome....

 

Without it sounding all grandiose, knowing I have played a teeny tiny part in someone doing something bigger, sometimes really gets me. Recently a PGT/PHD developing the palliative care strategy for their COUNTRY!  Which I found out is to be implemented next year.

 

Honestly, I am awed at the impact some of our students already have and will go on to have. 

 

Unexpected emails, acknowledgements  and thank you's are always lovely too, but actually last year a student recognised me at a motorway service station and came over to say "hello"  and "I liked your workshop". Left a kind off warm fuzzy feeling too.

 

Kind regards

Mary Dickinson

On 4 Oct 2013, at 13:37, "Martin Hampton" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hello all. I'm writing a text provisionally entitled 'Joy and Fulfilment in Higher Education' (and subtitled 'A riposte to commercialisation's assault on the soul' if I can get my way!). What brings you joy and fulfilment at work? What nourishes and protects your 'soul' (whatever you take that to be, or not to be) when working?

(I will obviously ask individually for permission to use any observations.)

regards

Martin H.

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Martin Hampton, BA (Hons), PGCE, FHEA
Academic Skills (ASK)
Nuffield Centre
University of Portsmouth
PO1 2ED
UK

W: www.port.ac.uk/ask
E:  [log in to unmask]
T:   023 9284 3028

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