My first academic conference presentation

academic presentation

I was offered the opportunity of presenting my research ideas at the University of Bristol's School of Education virtual conference that took place on the 5th and 6 the June and even though I didn't feel that aspects of my research were ready to present I took this opportunity to at least attempt a presentation. 

My research is looking at the marketisation of the UK higher education system, neoliberalism and the effects that this may be having on the teaching and learning experience. My initial focus was to consider how students are experiencing education but through my job working with academics on research funding opportunities, I am becoming more exposed to how academics are feeling about so many chances, mechanisms and demands on their performance. I am now leaning towards designing my research project in a way that focuses on academic identities but more on that as it unfolds over the coming couple of months, then years. 

I presented on Michel Foucault's theory of power and also Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework that looks at cultural capital in relation to the marketisation of higher education. I also looked at how attempts to increase the number of people from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds to increase diversity in higher education have not been successful because of access to hot knowledge, which is knowledge that comes through personal connections who offer recommendations and word of mouth promotion.

My aim in my presentation was to attempt to talk in a language that is accessible by as many people in society as possible, rather than sound academic and high-brow as I really want my research to make sense to wider society and not just academic professionals. do let me know if you found my presentation content accessible.

Below is a link to my presentation and my section starts around 16.58 although the speakers both before and after me discussed very interesting topic areas. I would love to hear from you in the comments any constructive feedback that you may have on my presentation. 

Location: Bristol, UK

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