Introduction: Becoming an Academic Manager—A Knowing-in-Practice Perspective

Universities have a complex and dynamic nature. Its management depends on an important position, the academic manager, the one who manages without abandoning the teaching identity. However, how does the constitution process of the academic manager take place, involving learning and knowing? In this chapter we focus on the main elements related to the configuration of academic managers’ knowing, taking the theoretical and analytical lens of the knowing-in-practice perspective. Concepts related to university management, practice, knowing-in-practice, academic manager, and academic manager knowing and learning are provided. Details about the qualitative study that grounds this book are indicated, such as the data collection and analysis procedures, mostly the categorization process that supports the development of the framework, named The Cauldron of Knowing of the Academic Manager.