'I have a chameleon-like existence' : a duoethnographic account of border crossing by two academic development practitioners

CITATION: Van Schalkwyk, S. & McMillan, W. J. 2016. 'I have a chameleon-like existence': a duoethnographic account of border crossing by two academic development practitioners. South African Journal of Higher Education, 30(6):207‒223, doi:10.20853/30-6-735.The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajheENGLISH SUMMARY : The practice of situating academic development practitioners within faculties poses challenges for practitioners from outside the particular discipline. Literature highlights how discourse and culture create tensions amongst role-players in cross-disciplinary contexts. This duoethnographic account examines the experiences of two practitioners as insider-outsiders in a health sciences disciplinary space. Duoethnography is a collaborative methodology where researchers, in dialogue, critique the meanings they give to social and epistemological constructs. Drawing on border crossing as theoretical lens, the study signals how the insider-outsider location might be mediated to support quality teaching. Border crossing highlights the construct of frontiers and associated identity work. The study identified critical success factors for collaboration – physical presence over time; knowing what is valued; an established identity as scholar and competent practitioner; a community of practice; recognition and an acknowledgement by faculty management; and personal flexibility, sensitivity, approachability and willingness to change.http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajhe/article/view/735Publisher's versio