Defining and Rewarding Academic Citizenship: The implications for university promotions policy

Abstract

The concept of ‘academic citizenship’ reflects different interpretations of the civic purposes of the university. However, activities associated with this concept are largely under‐conceptualised and poorly rewarded in academic life. Based on research with an international group of academics, this paper defines the meanings of ‘service’ and ‘academic citizenship’, and outlines the implications for academics serving five overlapping communities: students, colleagues, institutions, disciplines or professions, and the wider public. It goes on to consider how academic citizenship may be recognised through university promotions criteria in the context of an increasingly ‘performative’ academic culture.