What has sustained you during your career?: Exploring the perceptions of a sample of Further Education lecturers at a college in England

Williams, Kenneth

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to capture the perceptions of twenty lecturers based at one further education college in England in relation to factors that sustained them in their teaching career. Relatively unstructured and semi-structured Interviews were employed in the collection of data.
The study examined the concept of sustainability and its relationship to career theory and the impact of the meso and macro context on the career sustainability of lecturers. The empirical research revealed that the main factors that sustained participants in their career navigation were the opportunities to draw upon and enhance their career capital and working in a further education college context. Participants were also sustained in their career by teaching a diverse range of students; relationships; role responsibilities and engaging in learning and curriculum development. Participants strived for a life work balance and their internal values guided and sustained them in their career. The involvement of participants in the College’s review of its values and in planning and target setting contributed to their career sustainability.
Participants raised issues in relation to opportunities for occupational progression and performance management which pointed to a negative impact on their well-being
Recommendations and implications for practice included further opportunities for lecturers to undertake work shadowing/placements; curriculum development and a deeper discussion about their career plans.
The study makes a contribution to the research literature because it addresses the important and growing issue in the literature of taking account of context and revealed that the perceptions of participants were far less negative than much of the F.E. literature. The study also highlights the mediating influence of City College (at the meso level) to macro influences and how macro influences and the actions of City College, have been perceived and mediated by the research participants (at the micro level).

Citation

Williams, K. (2020). What has sustained you during your career?: Exploring the perceptions of a sample of Further Education lecturers at a college in England. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4912400

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 12, 2024
• Keywords: Education
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4912400
• Additional Information: Department of Education Studies; University of Hull
• Award Date: May 1, 2020