Managerialism and the changing academic profession in Hong Kong

Abstract

Managerialism has been a main driver of change facing the academic profession in Hong Kong with the rationalization of university governance and managerial structures. There is a common view that managerialism is not welcomed by academics for the traditional academic ethos of collegiality has been undermined by the growing importance of managerial values and practices. However, whether the rise of managerialism leads to a demoralized academic profession in Hong Kong and a climate of resentment and resistance deserve more in-depth research and analysis. Drawing from the statistical data of the survey of “A Changing Academic Profession: The Second International Survey of the Academic Profession” conducted in 2007 in Hong Kong and other countries, this research aims to compare and analyze how academics respond to changes in university governance and management amidst the rise of managerialism in Hong Kong and other systems in Asia, Europe and North America. The data analysis reveals that the impact of managerialism on the academic profession in Hong Kong should not be seen purely from a negative perspective. While academic values would not be completely superseded by managerial values, some managerial values have been embraced by academics in line with the “marriage” between managerial and academic values. The data analysis also indicates that institutional mission and competent leadership are managerial values and practices with strong impact on Hong Kong academics’ perceptions of their work whereas academic freedom and collegiality are academic values and practices being strongly emphasized by academics in Hong Kong. This study refutes the assumption that the rise of managerialism has only negative impact on the academic profession and its work in Hong Kong, and also provides an objective assessment of the impacts of managerialism on academic work in Hong Kong.