Educational development in the UK: a complex and contradictory reality.

At a time when questions are being asked about the identity and purpose of academic development, this paper seeks to address these questions within the context of one country in which educational development has been actively supported. This study considers a narrative of the complex and contradictory reality of educational development in the United Kingdom based on the perceptions of heads of educational development. Based on a survey of over 40 institutions, the paper highlights the growth of educational development centres and considers their staffing, institutional location, role and responsibilities. It also seeks to explore some points of similarity and difference with trends in other countries. A l'heure ou des questions sont posees au sujet de l'identite et des visees du developpement pedagogique, cet article cible ces questions du point de vue d'un pays au sein duquel le developpement pedagogique a ete soutenu activement. Cette recherche examine l'historique de la “realite complexe et contradictoire” du developpement pedagogique au Royaume-Uni a partir des perceptions de directeurs de centres de developpement pedagogique. Se basant sur un sondage de plus de 40 institutions, l'article met en lumiere la croissance des centres de developpement pedagogique et examine leur localisation institutionnelle, leur role et leurs responsabilites. L'article cherche aussi a explorer les similitudes et les differences avec des tendances observees dans d'autres pays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]