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Identity Work of Pracademics: Case Study of the Keyanyuan as Formalized Pracademics in Shanghai

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Title: Identity Work of Pracademics: Case Study of the Keyanyuan as Formalized Pracademics in Shanghai
Language: English
Authors: Shuangye Chen (ORCID 0000-0003-3399-2790), Xiaolei Zhang (ORCID 0000-0002-5030-4948), Haiyan Qian
Source: Journal of Professional Capital and Community. 2026 11(2):152-170.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Professional Identity, College Faculty, Teacher Role, Role Perception, Facilitators (Individuals), Social Networks, Teacher Researchers
Geographic Terms: China (Shanghai)
DOI: 10.1108/JPCC-07-2024-0108
ISSN: 2056-9548
2056-9556
Abstract: Purpose: This study applies the social identity complexity perspective and the concept of identity work to explore how pracademics in Shanghai of China, formally named as the Keyanyuan (KYY) in Chinese, construct their professional identities through various brokerage work. Design/methodology/approach: This is a qualitative case study of 10 KYYs from the municipal level and 8 districts in Shanghai. In addition to semi-structured interviews, various documents and field observation were conducted. Adopting the identity-as-process position, qualitative data were analyzed thematically by viewing pracademic identity construction in pracademia as dynamic identity work processes. Findings: Despite being recruited as formally positioned pracademics, KYYs in Shanghai shape their professional identities by redefining roles and engaging in brokerage work, resulting in dominant and non-dominant identities. Those with dominant identities prioritize the practitioner identification (e.g. practitioners) and focus on dealing with routine tasks with restrained identity work. In contrast, those with non-dominant identities reconcile their identities in the nexus of multi-membership through intensive identity work, leading to intersected (practitioner-scholar) or merged (pracademic) identities. Those with intersected or merged identities shift or expand their work boundaries, resulting in changes and innovations. Networking mitigates KYYs' pracademic identity challenges in their identity work. Originality/value: In addition to highlighting the complexity of pracademic identities, this study contributes new knowledge for pracademics study by identifying different types of identity formation (i.e. dominant and non-dominant) with varying identity work.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507925
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Identity Work of Pracademics: Case Study of the Keyanyuan as Formalized Pracademics in Shanghai
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shuangye+Chen%22">Shuangye Chen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3399-2790">0000-0003-3399-2790</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiaolei+Zhang%22">Xiaolei Zhang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5030-4948">0000-0002-5030-4948</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Haiyan+Qian%22">Haiyan Qian</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Professional+Capital+and+Community%22"><i>Journal of Professional Capital and Community</i></searchLink>. 2026 11(2):152-170.
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  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 19
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+Identity%22">Professional Identity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Role%22">Teacher Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Role+Perception%22">Role Perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Facilitators+%28Individuals%29%22">Facilitators (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Networks%22">Social Networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Researchers%22">Teacher Researchers</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China+%28Shanghai%29%22">China (Shanghai)</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1108/JPCC-07-2024-0108
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2056-9548<br />2056-9556
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This study applies the social identity complexity perspective and the concept of identity work to explore how pracademics in Shanghai of China, formally named as the Keyanyuan (KYY) in Chinese, construct their professional identities through various brokerage work. Design/methodology/approach: This is a qualitative case study of 10 KYYs from the municipal level and 8 districts in Shanghai. In addition to semi-structured interviews, various documents and field observation were conducted. Adopting the identity-as-process position, qualitative data were analyzed thematically by viewing pracademic identity construction in pracademia as dynamic identity work processes. Findings: Despite being recruited as formally positioned pracademics, KYYs in Shanghai shape their professional identities by redefining roles and engaging in brokerage work, resulting in dominant and non-dominant identities. Those with dominant identities prioritize the practitioner identification (e.g. practitioners) and focus on dealing with routine tasks with restrained identity work. In contrast, those with non-dominant identities reconcile their identities in the nexus of multi-membership through intensive identity work, leading to intersected (practitioner-scholar) or merged (pracademic) identities. Those with intersected or merged identities shift or expand their work boundaries, resulting in changes and innovations. Networking mitigates KYYs' pracademic identity challenges in their identity work. Originality/value: In addition to highlighting the complexity of pracademic identities, this study contributes new knowledge for pracademics study by identifying different types of identity formation (i.e. dominant and non-dominant) with varying identity work.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1507925
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 152
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional Identity
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      – SubjectFull: College Faculty
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Role
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      – SubjectFull: Role Perception
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      – SubjectFull: Facilitators (Individuals)
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      – SubjectFull: Social Networks
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Researchers
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      – SubjectFull: China (Shanghai)
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      – TitleFull: Identity Work of Pracademics: Case Study of the Keyanyuan as Formalized Pracademics in Shanghai
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            NameFull: Haiyan Qian
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