Provided by Institute of Education EPrints
Gordon, G. and Whitchurch, C. (2007). “Managing Human Resources in Higher Education: The
Implications of a Diversifying Workforce”. Higher Education Management and Policy: 19(2):
135-155.
Managing Human Resources in Higher Education:
The Implications of a Diversifying Workforce
George Gordon
University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom
Celia Whitchurch
King’s College London, United Kingdom
Human resource capacity has become a critical issue for contemporary universities as a result
of increasing pressures from governments and global markets. As a consequence, particularly
where the institution is the employer, changes are occurring in the expectations of staff and
institutions about employment terms and conditions, as well as the broader aspects of working
life, and this is affecting academic and professional identities. Even under different regimes,
for instance, in Europe, with the government in effect as the employer, institutions are giving
greater attention to ways in which they might respond to these developments. This paper
considers key issues and challenges in human resource management in higher education, and
some of the implications of these changes.