The UK higher education senior management survey: a statactivist response to managerialist governance*

In this paper, we present results from an extensive survey of United Kingdom (UK) university academics investigating satisfaction with senior managers and university governance: the Senior Management Survey (SMS). In total, 5888 academic staff across the United Kingdom Higher Education (HE) sector completed the survey, and results were used to construct a league table of staff satisfaction with management. This table is a stark indictment of the current state of the UK HE sector, showing a mean satisfaction score of 10.54%. The SMS also collected qualitative data, and we extend the league table's insights using these data. Thematic analysis revealed seven major themes: the dominance and brutality of metrics; excessive workload; governance and accountability; perpetual change; vanity projects; the silenced academic; work and mental health. We conclude with a discussion of how this statactivist research can be used to bring about change in management and governance of UK HE.

Automated summary

This paper presents results from a survey of UK university academics on satisfaction with senior managers and university governance, with a league table showing low satisfaction levels and thematic analysis highlighting major issues. The study suggests avenues for reform in management and governance of UK Higher Education based on the data collected.