Academic development and educational developers: Perspectives from different European higher education contexts

This paper reports research in five European universities, in four countries between 2004 and 2008. The research explored and compared institutional contexts for academic development and the interpretations and reflections of a number of academic developers on the organizational position and role of academic development, and of 'developers'. A nuanced notion of 'service', commitment to scholarship, (inter)disciplinary flexibility, a strong ethos of learner-centredness and care for and support of both students and academics come to the fore across national and institutional boundaries. Evident, too, is the idea of a diversified profession in development, emergence and consolidation.status: publishe