The phenomenon of the “pracademic” – academics with professional practice experience – has received considerable attention in recent months.
A Washington Post article, with the aim of introducing the term to a wider audience, praised the contribution of academics with experience of practice.
And the article stimulated a Wonkhe article that questioned the value of labelling colleagues in this way:
The label itself could potentially lead to – or indeed add to – divisiveness and hierarchy in the academy… This separation implies an oversimplified dichotomy that could undermine the legitimacy of “traditional academics” and contribute to an unhealthy competition, rather than fostering collaboration and mutual respect.
