The Research Assessment Exercise

Authors

  • Lee-Anne Broadhead University of Bradford (U.K.)
  • Sean Howard Acronym Institute (U.K.)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v6n8.1998

Keywords:

United Kingdom, Foucault, Funding, Higher Education, Foreign Countries

Abstract

In this article it is argued that the recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE)--undertaken by the United Kingdom's Higher Education Funding Councils (HEFC)--is part of a much larger process of assessment in education generally. By taking the RAE as its focus, this article uses a Foucaultian analysis to amplify the nature and practice of disciplinary power in the setting of Higher Education. Foucault's notion of an "integrated system" of control and production, with its routine operation of surveillance and assessment--and its dependence on coercion and consent--is directly applied to the RAE. The impact on research and teaching is discussed. The critical response of academics to the exercise has failed to challenge the process in any fundamental way. it is argued here that this failure is a reflection of the degree to which disciplinary logic is embedded in the academic system.

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Author Biographies

Lee-Anne Broadhead, University of Bradford (U.K.)

Lee-Anne Broadhead is Lecturer at the Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford in the U.K.

Sean Howard, Acronym Institute (U.K.)

Sean Howard is editor of Disarmament Diplomacy, and is on the staff of the Acronym Institute, an institute based in London working on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation issues.

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Published

1998-04-19

How to Cite

Broadhead, L.-A., & Howard, S. (1998). The Research Assessment Exercise. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 6, 8. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v6n8.1998

Issue

Section

Articles