“Excellence” in academia and in evaluations (workshop)
This workshop will consider why “excellence” as a concept can be harmful in academic contexts, and consider other possible ways of measuring and evaluating research and teaching.
There have been several initiatives in recent years both internationally and locally (e.g. DORA, NOR-CAM, Project Implicit) to combat bias and encourage broader notions of quality in academic work and in evaluations. At a time when many acknowledge the need for cross-disciplinary research, teaching, and projects, systems still tend to favour less risky, often monodisciplinary, work, despite assurances to the contrary. This workshop will therefore consider ways both to combat evaluation methods that (implicitly) prolong the status quo and to encourage work that reflects a more diverse range of knowledge and knowledge processes. Bring with you your experience, your anecdotes, your unfinished publications/applications, your horror stories, and your open mind.
Suggested preparation materials:
Beverly Daniel Tatum in conversation with Cornel West and Tricia Rose (2021). The ABCs of Representation in Education. The Tight Rope [podcast].
Maxwell, K. (2023). Excellence. In K. Flørtoft, K. Losleben, and M. Duarte (eds) Gender Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Academia, pp. 108–117. Routledge.
Moore, S., C. Neylon, M.P. Eve, D.P. O’Donnell, and D. Pattinson. 2017. “Excellence R Us”: University Research and the Fetishisation of Excellence. Palgrave Communications 3.
Organiser: Centre for Womens- and Gender Research (SKK), UiT the Arctic University of Norway. The workshop is part of a series of seminars, worskshops, and discussions about jugdements in academia.
Funding: The research project SKJØNN, lead by the Department of Philosphy (IFF).