Dear Colleagues,
Please find below the Call for Papers for a special issue of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education on Third Space professionals
in HE.
The Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education (JLDHE) invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to exploring the contribution of
HE third space professionals to educational practice and pedagogy. This issue aims to bring together a collection of thought-provoking articles that delve into the complexities and intricacies of third space, providing insights that can inform practice and
advance teaching and learning in higher education.
Closing date for submissions: 31 March 2024
Expected publication date: Autumn 2024
Universities rely on the expertise of third space professionals, those who occupy the liminal space between
academic and professional services in Higher Education
(Whitchurch,
2013). Third space professionals transcend traditional academic and administrative roles and are characterised by a hybrid and often fluid function that includes elements of academic expertise and administrative/professional service. However, often
these individuals and teams do not feel that their contributions to the education landscape and ecosystem are recognised, supported or valued, and this experience varies depending on the local and national context. Third space professionals, such as Academic
Developers and other members of Professional Services that are sometimes referred to as ‘academic-related’ staff, can face challenges in developing effective collaborations with academic colleagues and senior leaders, must navigate complex hierarchies within
both academic and professional services structures, and as a result have a liminal identity. This also results in a lack of defined career progression opportunities, particularly in comparison to academic colleagues. Yet we recognise, as stressed by
Abegglen, Burns, and Sinfield (2023), that the collaborative work undertaken by many third
space professionals in partnership with colleagues and students across their institutions can create opportunities for individuals to gain professional and personal empowerment and agency. The rationale for this special issue is to create a platform for transnational
third space professionals to identify, recognise and celebrate their contributions to the education landscape and ecosystems within which they operate, and to address the challenges and benefits of collaborating across professional ‘spaces’ with other professional
services, other third space professionals and with our academic colleagues, in a range of contexts.
We seek contributions exploring topics that include, but are not limited to:
We encourage submissions that deepen our understanding of third space in the following formats:
Potential contributors could include, but are not limited to:
Please follow the
JLDHE Submission Preparation Checklist
and the JLDHE Style Guide when preparing your submission.
Please submit your paper to the
Journal of Learning Development in Higher
Education website and choose the option
Special Issue: Third Space.
You may contact Kelly-Louise Preece at
[log in to unmask]
or Tom Lowe at [log in to unmask] if you have any questions about the themes or formats for submission.
Thank you – and we look forward to receiving your submissions.
Lead Editor: Kelly-Louise Preece, Head of Educator Development, University of Exeter
James Anthony-Edwards, University Librarian, University of Exeter
Dr Eleanor Hodgson, Senior Educator Developer, University of Exeter
Dr Karen Kenny, Senior Educator Developer, University of Exeter
Dr Dawn Lees, Student Employability and Development Manager, University of Exeter
Lead Editor: Alicja Syska
Assistant Editor: Tom Lowe
Abegglen, S., Burns, T. & Sinfield, S. (eds.) (2023)
Collaboration in Higher Education. London: Bloomsbury.
AdvanceHE (2023) Professional Standards Framework. Available at:
https://advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/professional-standards-framework-teaching-and-supporting-learning-higher-education-0
(Accessed: 21/11/2023)
Hall, J. (2022) ‘Understanding and debating the third space’, in McIntosh, E. and Nutt, D. (eds.)
The Impact of the Integrated Practitioner in Higher Education. London: Routledge.
Holflod, K. (2022) 'Playful learning and boundary-crossing collaboration in higher education: a narrative and synthesising review',
Journal of Further and Higher Education, 47, pp. 465-480.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2022.2142101
Koeners, M. and Francis, J. (2020) 'The Physiology of play: potential relevance to higher education',
International Journal of Play, 9, pp. 143-159.
http://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2020.1720128
Little, D. and Green, D. (2022) ‘Credibility in educational development: trustworthiness, expertise, and identification’,
Higher Education Research and Development, 41, pp. 804-819.
https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1871325
McIntosh, E. & Nutt, D. (eds.) (2022)
The Impact of the Integrated Practitioner in Higher Education. London: Routledge.
McKay, F. and Robson, J. (2022) 'Structured agency’ normalising power, and the third space workers: higher education professional services staff as regulatory policy
actors', Journal of Further and Higher Education, 47, pp. 633-646.
https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2023.2177526
Whitchurch, C. (2013)
Reconstructing Identities in Higher Education. London: Routledge.
Best wishes,
Kelly-Louise
Kelly-Louise Preece
My pronouns are
she/her and my preferred names are Kelly or Kelly-Louise
Head of Educator Development / ASPIRE Framework Director / Teaching Excellence Awards Lead
I work compressed hours so am out of the office every other Friday
EduExe is the new identity for education development and enhancement at the University of Exeter. Find out about the support we offer through our Website I Toolkit I Blog I LinkedIn I Twitter I Podcast
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