In science, gravity refers to the universal force of attraction acting on and between all matter. No one on earth can escape the force of gravity. In a similar vein, the stringent requirements of publications, research grants, and research output in the academic world can be metaphorically described as “academic gravity,” the force of which pushes university academics to struggle and strive in pursuit of excellence just to survive in the changing landscape of higher education governed by neo-liberalism and managerialism. This article describes the journey of a junior academic staff member in an Asian university as he coped with various difficulties in establishing a collaborative culture in his department (i.e., the Faculty of Education). Working with a senior colleague (Sunshine-mother hereafter) in the same department, Author 1 began to recognize the importance of collegial collaboration in teacher education generally and in his academic life specifically. However, although he tried his utmost to develop a culture of collaboration amongst his colleagues, he struggled to cope with the tension and stress exerted by academic gravity (i.e., publication production and the pursuit of tenure). Drawing on data collected from a teaching development project and adopting a reflective autobiographic approach, this article delineates the collaborative relationship between Author 1 and Sunshine-mother, exemplifying the important roles that coaching and a free rein (i.e., weightlessness) play in the development of junior teacher-educators under the strong pressure of academic gravity.

在科学中，引力是指作用于所有物质以及物质之间的普遍吸引力。地球上没有人能够逃脱地心引力。同样，学术界对出版物、研究资助和研究成果的严格要求可以被比喻为“学术引力”，这种力量促使大学学者为了生存而奋斗和追求卓越。新自由主义和管理主义主导的高等教育格局的变化。本文描述了亚洲大学的一名初级学术人员在其部门（即教育学院）建立协作文化时应对各种困难的历程。作者 1 与同一系的一位资深同事（以下简称“阳光妈妈”）一起工作，开始认识到学院合作在教师教育中的重要性，特别是在他的学术生活中。然而，尽管他尽最大努力在同事之间发展一种合作文化，但他仍难以应对学术重力（即出版作品和追求终身教职）所带来的紧张和压力。本文利用教学发展项目收集的数据，采用反思自传的方式，描绘了作者 1 与阳光妈妈之间的合作关系，举例说明了教练和自由（即失重）在发展中所发挥的重要作用。处于学术重心的强大压力下的初级教师教育者。