Critical Practice in Higher Education

Karen Gravett’s book reminds us why universities need to value their collective ability to embrace theory, to question, to push back on instrumentalism and to advocate otherwise. It is an important piece of scholarship that re-claims critical practice and shows us how to put it to work. -- Sian Bayne, Professor of Digital Education, University of Edinburgh, UK In scrutinising the act of ‘critical practice’, this book challenges readers to reconsider their understandings of critique within complex and connected learning environments. Addressing these topics in an accessible and deeply thoughtful way, provides an opportunity for educators to consider the actual embodied and relational enactment of criticality. Such reflexivity is in dire need in the quest to rethink taken for granted and established practices in higher education, paving the way for renewal and innovation within the academy. -- Sarah O’Shea, Distinguished Professor and Dean, Charles Sturt University, Australia Karen Gravett offers a powerful and passionate argument for the importance of time and space for reflection and thinking in academia. Gravett’s vision of relational critical practice is a transformative call to action in higher education—challenging, unsettling, and deeply inspiring. -- Naomi Winstone, Professor of Educational Psychology, Director of the Surrey Institute of Education, University of Surrey, UK An important exposition of the underlying reasons why critical practice, and its evolving permutations as conceptualised in Western academia, is so vital for higher education today. Addressing key issues such as research, teaching, and student well-being, the book offers valuable insights into why critical practice is so essential in the work of universities today. -- Ibrar Bhatt, Senior Lecturer, Queen's University Belfast, UK