The Nature of Despair in Higher Education

In this podcast episode, Katherine Cronin and Laura Chenjevic explore the shared experiences of despair among academics in higher education. They discuss the impact of austerity, underfunding, casualization, and growing inequality within the sector. They also highlight the need to confront this despair before moving forward and emphasize the importance of systemic change rather than placing the responsibility solely on individuals. The conversation delves into the role of imagination in bringing about positive change and the significance of fostering communal and coalition-based approaches to learning, teaching, assessment, and design.