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'Nothing will prevent me from doing a good job'. The professionalisation of part-time teaching staff in further and adult education

Recognised by the University and College Union in an invited Keynote presentation at the UCU Anti-Casualisation campaign November 2009 launch, the research reported in this paper reflected on findings from two reports by the authors from Learning and Skills Development Agency-funded research (2002-06) involving 700 part-time staff in the lifelong learning sector, surveyed regionally in a collaborative action research process. The authors overturn simplified assumptions about part-timeness, advocating enhanced professionalisation for part-time staff and inclusion in policy change agendas. Although marginalised and largely unsupported, part-time staff make creative use of professional autonomy and agency to mitigate problematic 'casual employment' conditions.