Responding to the neoliberal and managerial changes: a generational perspective of Chinese academics

Although all Chinese academics from different generational cohorts are increasingly subjected to a variety of specific institutional practices and technologies, each generational group is distinctive in terms of its opportunities and constraints, and each one understands, experiences and responds to the neoliberal and managerial reforms in quite different ways. Informed by in-depth interviews from a generational perspective with 32 participants, this study explores the generational differences in university academics’ responses to the neoliberal and managerial discourse by taking into account the specific context of Chinese universities. The findings first introduced the different conditions, opportunities and constraints that each generation faces, then interpreted the different values and beliefs that different academic generations hold about their academic work. Finally, the individual reactions and actions of each generation resulting from the possibilities, constraints and interpretations of the neoliberal and managerial reforms were delineated. This study concluded with some practical implications to facilitate different generational cohorts of Chinese academics adapting to the changing environment.