Resisting within the neoliberalising academy: Reflections on doing transformative doctoral research

Abstract

This paper reflects on the authors' experiences in doing transformative research in two countries of South East Europe - Greece and Bosnia and Herzegovina, during their doctoral studies abroad – United Kingdom and Finland. Within the neoliberal context of academia which celebrates ‘success stories’, research committed to change and action may not always be welcomed and may even be considered as a pathway to ‘failure’. Reflecting on this type of 'failure' and 'opportunity' through our personal stories, we debate how we can resist neoliberalisation in academia from within and promote an anti-oppressive and empowering place of hope and change.