CHET Reading group
What is the CHET Reading Group?
CHET Reading Group is a student-led space that primarily connects PhD researchers and staff interested in higher education (HE) studies. The space is organised by Lara Dzabolova, a 2nd-year PhD researcher in climate change complexity, politics and HE, and Rodolfo Benites, a 3rd-year PhD researcher in HE policy and social inequalities.
We work under the umbrella of the Centre for Higher Education Transformations (CHET) research centre, which connects us all and provides its support.
The readings are selected from broad areas of HE studies and, in some cases, are connected to upcoming seminars hosted by CHET or are published materials from our large academic community of CHET associates.
Why are we doing this?
We are researchers who are curious about all things HE but find few spaces where we can connect and have deep conversations with colleagues working in this field. So, as part of the Centre for Higher Education Transformations, we aim to be transforming just that: contribute to strengthening the community of researchers around HE and turning the isolated spirit of research into a collective learning endeavour.
As a bonus, the Reading Group sessions provide an opportunity to engage with readings and topics that may be outside of our personal research interests, yet they might become essential in ongoing and future research projects, nonetheless.
Who can take part?
While the Reading Group is based at the School of Education, we welcome anyone interested in topics related to HE at the University of Bristol. We are proud to have already students, academic staff and professional services staff from different areas of the University.
How can I register?
If you are part of the University of Bristol and would like to participate in this group, please register by clicking here, and feel free to invite anyone who may be interested.
Our value statement
As a space for collective thinking and enriching conversations, the Reading Group is not a space for mere critique of readings. It is a space based on respect and listening, due to which learning, deep thinking, and meaningful conversations are possible, and new ideas and questions can emerge. Therefore, we extend an invitation to reflect on our own positioning, values and reactions to a text, and engage in discussions on how the readings, with all their strengths and limitations, challenge and change our thinking.
To ensure such an environment, we expect you to engage with the material(s) in advance of the session, come with an open mind, and be respectful and empathetic to all participants. We look forward to greeting you soon and hope you enjoy the sessions as much as we do!
Do you have any questions?
Contact us at lara.dzabolova@bristol.ac.uk or rodolfo.benites@bristol.ac.uk.
Our sessions
Session 2: The Emergence of the Modern Research University
Our second meeting will be on December 3, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, at the School of Education, University of Bristol, Room 1.20. This month, we invite you to explore the emergence of the modern research university. The selected reading for this meeting is “Organizing Enlightenment. Information Overload and the Invention of the Modern Research University” by Chad Wellmon (2015).
The questions that will guide us through the meeting are the following:
- To what extent do you (dis)agree with the purpose of the research university as framed in this chapter?
- This chapter offers an account of the Western university’s response to technological disruptions in the form of the proliferation of print (18th century) and of MOOCs (21st century). What similarities and differences can you notice between this account and the response of modern Western research universities to disruptions by AI?
Do you want to explore this topic further?
In case you’re interested, here are further materials about our next reading group meeting topic:
- Vincent Carpentier (2019) “Higher Education in Modern Europe” in The Oxford Handbook of the History of Education https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/34437/chapter/292233613?login=true
Session 1: Neoliberalism, Social Mobility and Higher Education
Our first meeting will be on November 12, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, at the School of Education, University of Bristol, Room 1.20. This month, we invite you to think about how neoliberalism manifests in universities in England and what that means for our work. The selected reading for this meeting is “Ambivalent Agents: The Social Mobility Industry and Civil Society Under Neoliberalism in England” by Anna Mountford‐Zimdars et al., 2025.
The questions that will guide us through the meeting are the following:
- What do you believe is the most significant implication of this study regarding our understanding of neoliberal higher education?
- Based on the article’s findings, what challenges does the higher education sector in England face in addressing inequalities?
- Can you identify other areas within the higher education landscape – whether at the global, national, or institutional levels – where processes of reproduction, ambivalence, and resistance to neoliberalism coexist?
Do you want to explore this topic further?
In case you’re interested, here are further materials about our next reading group meeting topic:
- The invisible doctrine. The secret history of neoliberalism (and how it came to control your life). By George Monbiot, 2024 (Book): https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455534/the-invisible-doctrine-by-hutchison-george-monbiot-and-peter/9781802062694
- George Monbiot meets Nish Kumar – The secret history of neoliberalism. How To Academy Podcast, 2024 (Audio): https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Rzx5F28DWxgoI2J5YdUco?si=8d5a62818444411b
- The Role of Neoliberalism in the Marketisation of Higher Education. By Gerbrand Tholen, 2024 (Book): https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-66281-2