Abstract
The research investigates academics’ perceptions of managerialist ideology and practice in universities, especially the growing expectations of the current prevailing ideology within the NHE context. The purpose of the research is threefold: first, it investigates academics’ perceptions of new managerialism and its practice in terms of their psychological contracts; second, it investigates values and practices associated with managerialist ideology and its effect on the ideological currency of academics’ psychological contracts, and third, it explores the state of academics’ psychological contracts in UK universities (especially in England) and how this differs from one type of university to another. The boundaries for the research include the four main university types that constitute HE in England (i.e. ancient, red brick, plate glass and post-1992). The research uses a qualitative critical and extreme case of business academics, where the sample size consists of 32 academics. The data gathered from the interviews with academics from the four university types were first analysed thematically within each type, before the results of each were compared with the whole. The computing software package, MAXQDA is used for the data analysis. The research findings provide evidence that the NHE context in England is deeply marked by a growing managerialist style and the expectation of meeting certain goals. The data show that the proliferating culture of accountability, audit and performance characterising this NHE environment is currently impacting on academics’ working lives. The findings add to the debate against new managerialism, by demonstrating that it is perceived by many academics to be on the increase and affecting their psychological contracts. In addition, these findings also indicate that the contemporary policies and practices of new managerialism in England negatively impact upon academics’ perceptions of the extent to which the ideological currency of their psychological contract is fulfilled. The research provides insights by showing how practice differs across the university types being compared. The four main university types under study demonstrate both the similarities and differences of the impact of managerialism on the academic environment in England.