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Being a Higher Education Professional Today: Working in a Third Space

Professional and Support Staff in Higher Education

Part of the book series: University Development and Administration ((UDAA))

Abstract

This section not only provides a snapshot of the contemporary professional workforce in higher education, but also aims to identify emergent trends and indicators in relation to roles and identities, collectively and individually. To introduce the range of perspectives that follow, this chapter reviews current thinking about what it means to be a professional in higher education today, including a converging relationship with academic roles and identities, and illustrates ways in which higher education professionals are pushing the boundaries of their domains. Key themes that emerge in the chapters that follow are the fluidity of identity, a sense of transition and “work-in-progress” as new fields of practice evolve, and issues around building confidence and recognition, particularly for staff working between professional and academic domains.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University College London, London, UK

    Celia Whitchurch

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  1. Celia Whitchurch
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Correspondence to Celia Whitchurch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tasmanian Institute of Learning and Teac, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Carina Bossu

  2. Tasmanian Institute of Learning and Teac, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Natalie Brown

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Whitchurch, C. (2018). Being a Higher Education Professional Today: Working in a Third Space. In: Bossu, C., Brown, N. (eds) Professional and Support Staff in Higher Education. University Development and Administration. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_31-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_31-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1607-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1607-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Being a Higher Education Professional Today: Working in a
    Published:
    30 October 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_31-3

  2. Being a Higher Education Professional Today: Working in a
    Published:
    29 June 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_31-2

  3. Original

    Published:
    27 November 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1607-3_31-1

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