'Not without dust and heat': The moral bases of the 'new' academic professionalism

This paper challenges the view that academic professionalism resides in the professional 'autonomy' of the academic, the 'self-regulation' of academic s as an occupational group, and the differential 'status' of academic worke rs. This still influential (though residual) notion of academic professiona lism, it is argued, leads to institutional stasis. What is required is grea ter reflexivity by academics in respect of;their underlying professional va lues. In particular the piece challenges the academic community (of which t he author is a member) to re-think academic freedom - the bedrock of profes sional identity within that community - in terms of increased inclusivity: 'freedom for all' rather than 'freedom for academics: The paper touches on issues relating to practice and organisational structure, but focuses prima rily on the need for academics to shift the moral bases of their claim to p rofessionalism. In so doing, it also challenges the post-Dearing consensus that the debate on academic professionalism can be adequately conducted in terms of 'standards' and outcomes: A prime purpose of the paper is to promo te debate and discussion by setting a different hind of agenda (a moral age nda) and by couching that agenda within a different hind of discourse (one that invites and admits moral speculation).