Departmental Dynamics – Examining how best to develop academic careers

This research intends to both build upon the available resources as well as examine their effects within higher education (HE). It has been well documented that universities are currently institutions in the public sector that have been subjected to massive shifts in funding, performance measures and indeed deteriorating academic autonomy (Bolden et al, 2012). These have inevitably affected staff morale as well as opportunities for career development. Examining the dynamics of the department provide a poignant context for the drivers of this research and its intended outcomes. Through the review of toolkit resources afforded by the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE) and the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (LFHE), the study intends to examine areas of best practice in HR and indicate areas where developments could be made within the context of academic career development in HE.