This study aimed to explore the perceptions of Indonesian academics towards the implementation of Performance Indicators (PIs) on teaching and research. The study was a case study using semi‐structured interviews, conducted with 30 academics in three state universities in Indonesia. The results of the study revealed academics believed that outcome indicators used in PIs for control mechanisms have neglected the humane side of the teaching and learning process, and scientific research. Academics also perceived that PIs are valuable for improving daunting workplace conditions and poor institutional culture if they are used for the improvement of internal management. The findings of this study, if seriously considered, may provide information for policy makers to revisit and refine the existing indicators used to measure academics’ teaching and research performance. This can be implemented by taking into account the collegial nature, organised anarchy, of a bottom‐up approach that emphasises the emancipation of academics to determine what elements of their teaching and research should be covered and be measured. This research argues that indicators used for PIs can be a blend of quantitative and qualitative measures, which compensate for each other.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to understand the under life of Indonesian academics during ongoing implementation of government-driven policy enacted in higher education instititutions in Indonesia. The attention was specifically focused on the new programme of accountability and quality assurance moderated by the implementation of online assessment system to monitor and evaluate the perfromance of lecturers directly and how this system impacted upon the meaning of academic identity perceived by them.
Design/methodology/approach
– This study was drawn from a qualitative research of case study approach. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to collect data and conducted with 30 academics from three state universities.
Findings
– This study revealed that academics were grappling to balance their schism between keeping their existing identity tenable and excercising new prescribed roles from external environment. However, academics were still able to practice their preceived identity through their principled personal project that legitimate them to become academics and pursue their success rather than use instrumental means.
Practical implications
– The results of this study will be expected to contribute to a better understanding on the dynamics of academics’ world as it is encountered against government-driven policy, and provide indications for policy makers to take into account this issue in the formulation and enactment of their policy.
Originality/value
– A new aspect of identity in academic profession was found, that is to say religion.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to show the research process which is laid on the interrelated aspects of paradigm-research-based approaches and research designs.
Design/methodology/approach
It draws on my PhD research project experience, where I deployed these interrelated aspects informing my methodological perspective to produce quality research via the generation of legitimate research findings.
Findings
From this practice, my chosen held paradigm, constructionism, has guided me to proceed with my research process, leading to the selection of a research approach (qualitative case study) and research designs (interviews, observation, and document analysis).
Originality/value
This conduct helps valorise the legitimacy of my research findings to produce legitimate knowledge. This reflective account of the research process can become a lesson for others who wish to go through a legitimate process of selecting the research approaches and research designs, particularly, in social sciences.
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