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Department of Education

David Mills

Associate Professor, Pedagogy and the Social Sciences

College Affiliation: Kellogg College

David Mills is Associate Professor (Pedagogy and the Social Sciences) at the Department of Education at Oxford. He is Deputy Director of the Oxford Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE) and a Co-Investigator on CGHE’s Research Programme on Supranational Higher Education. He is also Governing Body Fellow at Kellogg College.

Trained in Anthropology, David uses ethnographic methods to study higher education, and his current research interests include the impact of the global research economy on institutional research and publishing cultures in African universities. This work seeks to question the concept of ‘predatory publishing’,  and the way the term occludes the reputational inequalities of global  knowledge ecosystems.

He is also interested in contrasting conceptions of ‘capacity building’, the changing place of scholarly journals within knowledge cultures and academic mobility.

Funded Research Projects:

Doctoral Applications

David welcomes doctoral applications from students interested in the following research areas:

  • Anthropology of Education
  • African Higher Education
  • Critical studies in doctoral education

Publications:

  • Featured Publications

    • Mills, D (2015) “Anthropologies of Education: A Global Guide to Ethnographic Studies of Learning and Schooling”, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1468794114560555

    • Mills, DS (2015) “Related Disciplines”, In: J Carrier, D Gewertz (eds.) The Handbook of Sociocultural Anthropology. A&C Black.

    • Vokes, R, Mills, D (2015) “'Time for School'? School fees, savings clubs and social reciprocity in Uganda”, JOURNAL OF EASTERN AFRICAN STUDIES. Taylor & Francis.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2015.1042627

  • Books

    • Mills, D (2008) Difficult folk?: A political history of social anthropology. Oxford: Berghahn Books.

    • Ntarangwi, M, Mills, D, Babiker, M (2006) African Anthropologies History, Critique and Practice. Zed Books.

    • James, W, Mills, D (2005) The Qualities of Time Anthropological Approaches. Berg Publishers.

    • Mills, DS (2004) Teaching Rites and Wrongs: Universities and the making of Anthropologists. C-SAP Monographs. Birmingham: C-SAP.

  • Book chapters

    • Mills, D (2017) “Anthropology”, In: Modernism and the Social Sciences: Anglo-American Exchanges, c.1918-1980. 231-256
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/9781316795514.010

    • Mills, DS (2015) “Related Disciplines”, In: J Carrier, D Gewertz (eds.) The Handbook of Sociocultural Anthropology. A&C Black.

    • Mills, DS (2013) “Audrey Richards”, In: RJ McGee, RL Warms (eds.) Theory in Social and Cultural Anthropology. London: SAGE.

    • Mills, D (2012) “Anthropology and education”, In: HANDBOOK OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATION. 33-47
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.4337/9781849807296.00010

    • Mills, DS (2010) “Comings and goings: Disciplinary ideologies and employment trajectories”, In: L McAlpine, G Åkerlind (eds.) New visions of academic practice: Preparing for careers in the social sciences. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    • Mills, D (2007) “A major disaster to anthropology?: Oxford and alfred reginald radcliffe-brown”, In: A History of Oxford Anthropology. 70-79

    • Mills, DS (2007) “‘A major disaster to anthropology….’? Oxford and the Radcliffe-Brown years”, In: P Rivière (ed.) A History of Oxford Anthropology. Methodology & History in Anthropology. Berghahn Books.

    • Mills, D (2006) “Made in Manchester?: Methods and myths in disciplinary history”, In: The Manchester School: Practice and Ethnographic Praxis in Anthropology. 165-179

    • Mills, DS (2006) “How not to be a colonial ‘house pet': Audrey Richards and the East African Institute of Social Research”, In: M Ntarangwi, D Mills, M Babiker (eds.) African Anthropologies History, Critique and Practice. Zed Books.

    • Mills, DS (2006) “Dinner at Claridges? Anthropology and the captains of industry 1947 -1955”, In: S Pink (ed.) Applications of Anthropology Professional Anthropology in the Twenty-first Century.

    • Mills, DS (2006) “Juggling Acts: Teaching and the disciplinary vocation”, In: D Carter, M Lord (eds.) Engagements with Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. Birmingham: C-SAP.

    • Mills, DS (2006) “Those who can….? Teaching as a postgraduate”, In: N Gilbert (ed.) From Postgraduate to Social Scientist A Guide to Key Skills. London: SAGE.

    • Mills, DS (2005) “Anthropology at the End of Empire: The rise and fall of the Colonial Social Sciences Research Council 1944 -1962”, In: F Neiburg, L Sigaud, FN Benoit de L’Estoile (eds.) Empires, Nations, and Natives Anthropology and State-Making. Durham: Duke University Press Books. 135-166

    • Mills, DS, Ssewakiryanga, R (2005) “No romance without finance: Masculinities, commodities and HIV in Uganda”, In: Readings in Gender in Africa. Oxford: James Currey Publishers.

    • Mills, D (2005) “Dinner at claridges?: Anthropology and the 'captains of industry', 1947-1955”, In: Applications of Anthropology: Professional Anthropology in the Twenty-First Century. 55-70

    • Mills, DS, Dracklé, D, Edgar, I (2004) “Introduction: Learning Fields; Disciplinary Practices”, In: I Edgar, D Drackle (eds.) Current Policies and Practices in European Social Anthropology Education. Oxford: Berghahn Books.

    • Mills, D (2003) “'Like a horse in blinkers'?: A political history of anthropology's research ethics”, In: The Ethics of Anthropology: Debates and Dilemmas. 37-54
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.4324/9780203633670

    • Mills, DS (2003) “‘Like a horse in blinkers’? A political history of anthropology’s research ethics”, In: P Caplan (ed.) The Ethics of Anthropology Debates and Dilemmas. London: Routledge. 37-54

    • Mills, DS (2003) “Teaching the Uncomfortable Science: Social Anthropology in British Universities”, In: D Drackle, I Edgar, T Schippers (eds.) Educational Histories of European Social Anthropology. Oxford: Berghahn Books.

    • Mills, DS (1999) “Progress as discursive spectacle: but what comes after development?”, In: R Fardon, W v. Bimsbergen, R v. Dijk (eds.) Modernity on a Shoestring Dimensions of Globalization, Consumption and Development in Africa and Beyond ; Based on an EIDOS Conference Held at The Hague, 13 - 16 March 1997. London and Leide: EIDOS (European Inter-University Development Opportunities Study Group). 91-116

  • Journal articles

    • Mills, D, Robinson, N (2021) “Democratising Monograph Publishing or Preying on Researchers? Scholarly Recognition and Global 'Credibility Economies'”, SCIENCE AS CULTURE.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/09505431.2021.2005562

    • Mills, D, Branford, A, Inouye, K, Robinson, N, Kingori, P (2021) ““Fake” journals and the fragility of authenticity: Citation indexes, “predatory” publishing, and the African research ecosystem”, Journal of African Cultural Studies. 33(3) 276-296.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/13696815.2020.1864304

    • Mills, D, Bell, K (2021) “National propensities? (May, 10.1007/s11192-021-04014-w, 2021)”, SCIENTOMETRICS.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-04070-2

    • Mills, D, Bell, K (2021) “National propensities?”, Scientometrics.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-021-04014-w

    • Inouye, K, Mills, D (2021) “Fear of the academic fake? Journal editorials and the amplification of the 'predatory publishing' discourse”, Learned Publishing. 34(3) 396-406.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1377

    • Mills, D (2020) “The epistemic politics of ‘academography’: navigating competing representations of Africa’s university futures”, Globalisation, Societies and Education.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2020.1814701

    • Mills, D, Inouye, K (2020) “Problematizing ‘predatory publishing’: A systematic review of factors shaping publishing motives, decisions, and experiences”, LEARNED PUBLISHING.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1325

    • Mills, D (2020) “Doing development in West Africa: a reader by and for undergraduates”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 26(1) 200-201.

    • Mills, D (2020) “Researching society and culture, 4th edition”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 26(1) 201-201.

    • Han, S, Mills, D (2020) “'FROM POINT TO SURFACE': THE ROLE OF POLICY EXPERIMENTATION IN CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION REFORMS”, BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2020.1795079

    • Mills, D, James, D (2019) “Reconceptualising organisational collaborations in social science doctoral education”, HIGHER EDUCATION. 79(5) 791-809.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00438-9

    • Mills, D, Bennett, D (2016) “In defence of standards or an act of ‘cultural barbarism’? Anthropology and histories of A-level reform”, Teaching Anthropology.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.22582/ta.v6i0.437

    • Mills, D (2015) “Anthropologies of Education: A Global Guide to Ethnographic Studies of Learning and Schooling”, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. 15(4) 543-544.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1468794114560555

    • Mills, D (2015) “English in Nordic Universities: Ideologies and practices.”, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS. 25(2) 265-268.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12115

    • Oancea, AE, Mills, D (2015) “The New Ecosystem for Educational Research: Findings from the BERA Observatory”, Research Intelligence. (127) 27-28.

    • Vokes, R, Mills, D (2015) “'Time for School'? School fees, savings clubs and social reciprocity in Uganda”, JOURNAL OF EASTERN AFRICAN STUDIES. 9(2) 326-342.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2015.1042627

    • Mills, D (2014) “The end of anthropology?”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 20(1) 188-189.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9655.12087_28

    • Lunt, I, McAlpine, L, Mills, D (2014) “Lively bureaucracy? The ESRC's Doctoral Training Centres and UK universities”, OXFORD REVIEW OF EDUCATION. 40(2) 151-169.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2013.862167

    • Mills, D (2012) “Glimpses into my own black box: an exercise in self-deconstruction”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 18(1) 198-199.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2011.01740_2.x

    • Mills, D, Ratcliffe, R (2012) “After method? Ethnography in the knowledge economy”, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. 12(2) 147-164.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1468794111420902

    • Mills, D, Rath, J (2012) “Academia as Workplace”, Higher Education Quarterly. 66(2) 129-134.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2273.2012.00517.x

    • Mills, D (2012) “Identities and Social Change in Britain Since 1940: The Politics of Method”, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. 12(5) 603-604.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1468794112442310

    • Mills, D (2011) “Anthropological intelligence: the deployment and neglect of American anthropology in the Second World War”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 17(1) 215-217.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2010.01675_38.x

    • Mills, D (2011) “Best of both worlds: the story of Elsdon Best and Tutakangahau”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 17(4) 906-907.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2011.01725_25.x

    • Mills, D (2010) “A new history of anthropology”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 16(1) 198-199.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2009.01604_31.x

    • Mills, D (2010) “Critical journeys: the making of anthropologists”, JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 16(4) 933-934.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2010.01661_27.x

    • Mills, D, Berg, ML (2010) “Gender, disembodiment and vocation: Exploring the unmentionables of British academic life”, CRITIQUE OF ANTHROPOLOGY. 30(4) 331-353.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0308275X10372470

    • Hawkins, P, Mills, D (2010) “Home or Away? Widening Participation and the Challenge for Anthropology”, Anthropology in Action. 17(2)
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.3167/aia.2010.170202

    • Mills, D (2009) “Making sense of doctoral training reforms in the social sciences: Educational development by other means?”, International Journal for Researcher Development. 1(1) 71-83.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1108/1759751x201100005

    • Mills, DS (2009) “Scientising the social sciences? Demographics and the research economy”, Research Intelligence. (108) 13-13.

    • Mills, D (2008) “Engaging anthropology: The case for a public presence.”, CRITIQUE OF ANTHROPOLOGY. 28(1) 105-106.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0308275X07086560

    • Lebeau, Y, Mills, D (2008) “From 'crisis' to 'transformation'? Shifting orthodoxies of African higher education policy and research”, Learning and Teaching. 1(1) 58-88.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.3167/175522708783113523

    • Mills, D (2008) “Compare, contrast, converge? A biography of the Demographic Review of the Social Sciences (2006)”, Twenty-First Century Society. 3(3) 263-278.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/17450140802332091

    • Mills, D (2006) “Life on the hill: Students and the social history of Makerere”, AFRICA. 76(2) 247-266.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1353/afr.2006.0022

    • Mills, D (2005) “Made in Manchester? Methods and myths in disciplinary history”, Social Analysis. 49(3) 129-143.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.3167/015597705780275011

    • Mills, D, Huber, MT (2005) “Anthropology and the educational 'trading zone': Disciplinarity, pedagogy and professionalism”, Arts and Humanities in Higher Education. 4(1) 9-32.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/1474022205048756

    • Mills, D (2004) “Anthropology and the 'amateurs': A personal view”, Anthropology Today. 20(6) 25-25.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.0268-540x.2004.00317.x

    • Mills, D (2004) “The 'new' African higher education?”, AFRICAN AFFAIRS. 103(413) 667-675.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adh072

    • Mills, D (2003) “Political power in pre-colonial Bugana: Economy, society and warfare in the nineteenth century”, JOURNAL OF IMPERIAL AND COMMONWEALTH HISTORY. 31(3) 147-148.

    • Mills, D (2003) “Quantifying the discipline: Some anthropology statistics from the UK”, Anthropology Today. 19(3) 19-22.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8322.00193

    • Mills, D (2003) “Review Article: Anthropology 101”, Social Anthropology. 11(3) 363-372.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8676.2003.tb00083.x

    • Mills, D (2003) “Professionalizing or popularizing Anthropology? A Brief history of anthropology's scholarly associations in the UK”, Anthropology Today. 19(5) 8-13.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8322.00216

    • Mills, D (2003) “Relativism and cultural studies”, Think. 1(3) 79-82.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/s1477175600000488

    • Mills, D, Ssewakiryanga, R (2002) “'That Beijing thing': Challenging transnational feminisms in Kampala”, Gender, Place and Culture. 9(4) 385-398.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/0966369022000024641

    • Mills, D (2002) “Methodology’s Mrs Beeton”, Qualitative Research. 2(3) 411-416.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/146879410200200307

    • Mills, D (2002) “History and theory in anthropology”, SOCIOLOGY-THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION. 36(2) 445-446.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0038038502036002013

    • Mills, D (2002) “Women and politics in Uganda.”, AMERICAN ETHNOLOGIST. 29(2) 437-438.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1525/ae.2002.29.2.437

    • Gibb, R, Mills, D (2001) “An interview with Adam Kuper”, Social Anthropology. 9(2) 207-216.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8676.2001.tb00146.x

    • Mills, D, Gibb, R (2001) “"Centre" and periphery - An interview with Paul Willis”, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY. 16(3) 388-414.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1525/can.2001.16.3.388

    • Kuper, A, Gibb, R, Mills, D (2001) “An interview with Adam Kuper”, Social Anthropology. 9(02)
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/s0964028201000143

    • Mills, D (2000) “Introduction to action research: Social research for social change.”, AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST. 102(3) 659-660.
      DOI: http://doi.org/10.1525/aa.2000.102.3.659

    • Mills, DS “Anthropology at the end of the British Empire: The rise and fall of the Colonial Social Science Research Council 1944 -1962”, Revue d’Histoire des Sciences Humaines. 6 161-188.

    • Mills, DS “‘The nation’s valiant fighters against illiteracy': Locations of learning and progress”, Social Analysis. 43(1) 3-17.

    • Mills, DS “‘We’ll show them a real discipline': Anthropology, Sociology and the politics of academic identity”, Anthropology in Action. 8(1) 34-41.

    • Mills, DS “Why Anthropology’s Ethics Matter: A short history”, Anthropology in Action. 9(3) 12-17.

  • Internet publication

  • Reports

    • Oancea, AE, Mills, D (2014) Educational Research. Final report of the BERA Observatory 2014.. London: British Educational Research Association.

    • Mills, DS, Jepson, A, Coxon, T, Easterby-Smith, M, Hawkins, P, Spencer, J (2006) Demographic Review of the Social Sciences. Swindon: ESRC.

  • Other

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