Julio Labraña

Research in Higher Education

Managerialism and academic resistance in Chilean higher education: a translation perspective


Journal article


Julio Labraña, José Joaquín Brunner, Francisca Puyol, Mario Alarcón, Carla Fardella
Studies in Higher Education, 2025, pp. 1-18


Article access
Cite

Cite

APA   Click to copy
Labraña, J., Brunner, J. J., Puyol, F., Alarcón, M., & Fardella, C. (2025). Managerialism and academic resistance in Chilean higher education: a translation perspective. Studies in Higher Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2025.2543441


Chicago/Turabian   Click to copy
Labraña, Julio, José Joaquín Brunner, Francisca Puyol, Mario Alarcón, and Carla Fardella. “Managerialism and Academic Resistance in Chilean Higher Education: a Translation Perspective.” Studies in Higher Education (2025): 1–18.


MLA   Click to copy
Labraña, Julio, et al. “Managerialism and Academic Resistance in Chilean Higher Education: a Translation Perspective.” Studies in Higher Education, 2025, pp. 1–18, doi:10.1080/03075079.2025.2543441.


BibTeX   Click to copy

@article{julio2025a,
  title = {Managerialism and academic resistance in Chilean higher education: a translation perspective},
  year = {2025},
  journal = {Studies in Higher Education},
  pages = {1-18},
  doi = {10.1080/03075079.2025.2543441},
  author = {Labraña, Julio and Brunner, José Joaquín and Puyol, Francisca and Alarcón, Mario and Fardella, Carla}
}

 Abstract

This paper explores the role of academic resistance among social science and humanities academics in Chilean universities in response to the increasing managerial governance of higher education. Managerialism, characterized by the adoption of business-oriented practices and performance metrics, has reshaped universities worldwide, fostering tensions with traditional collegial values that prioritize intellectual freedom and academic independence. While much of the literature on managerialism focuses on universities in developed countries, this study addresses a gap by examining the distinct context of Chile, where neoliberal reforms have shaped a market-driven yet highly regulated higher education landscape. Drawing on qualitative research, the paper analyzes how Chilean academics in the social sciences and humanities resist managerial practices, framing this resistance as an active form of translation rather than mere opposition. The findings highlight the implications of these practices for academic identity, autonomy, and the pursuit of knowledge, offering broader insights into the global diffusion of managerialism in higher education. 
Accepted Manuscript (AAM). Peer-reviewed and accepted for publication. Shared for personal and academic use only; it may differ from the final published version. The version of record is available via “Article access” above.