Blurring boundaries and changing university staff : the case of the University of Hong Kong

Abstract

In the changing higher education environment, universities increasingly engage in areas outside the traditional teaching and research missions. The new missions extends over a wide yet specialized areas, such as technological advancement, internationalization, entrepreneurship, and enhancement of teaching and learning. To effectively handle these areas, universities require specific talents that may not be found in conventional academic and administrative cadres. The transformation highlights blurred boundaries between academic and non-academic spheres of university. Situated in the University of Hong Kong (HKU), this paper explores how the university utilizes new professionals and administrative staff in new missions. Qualitative interviews with university staff reveal their profiles and perceptions in evolving organizational structures. By examining understudied subjects in Hong Kong, it discusses implications for a new organizational model to optimize various talents of university. Drawing upon emerging literatures of professional staff at university, analysis of sociocultural influence is a crucial element of this research.