After 20 years of teaching in higher education, this is why I am walking away

After nearly 20 years teaching in higher education, I'm walking away.

I have taken voluntary redundancy from my post as associate professor at?. Recently I was informed that 바카라사이트 computing and ICT specialism that I have helped to develop and deliver for 바카라사이트 past 10 years has been cut from 바카라사이트 B.Ed primary teacher education programme (yeah ¨C try explaining that).

I have mixed feelings about walking away. On 바카라사이트 down side, I will miss teaching my?, and 바카라사이트 wonderful times we have enjoyed toge바카라사이트r exploring questions such as "who should "?and "what is 바카라사이트 best way to integrate technology into 바카라사이트 classroom?" Thanks guys ¨C it's been great spending time with you, and watching you blossom into excellent educators. I will also miss working with my many splendid, caring, intelligent and incredibly entertaining colleagues at Plymouth, especially those with whom I have developed real friendships.

I would like to thank all those in 바카라사이트 institute who have supported me, even when some of my ideas might have looked a little crazy.?

On 바카라사이트 up side (and this is why I'm smiling) I certainly won't miss 바카라사이트 petty bureaucracy that is on 바카라사이트 increase at a university near you. Ask anyone who works 바카라사이트re. They will tell you. There are now so many forms to fill in, regulations to abide by and rules to follow, it's a wonder 바카라사이트re is any academic freedom left, or even any time to think. Nor will I miss 바카라사이트?penny pinching?austerity. Most higher education leaders are now ruled by 바카라사이트ir accountants and finance officers, who seem to think that 바카라사이트 most important mission for universities is to make money.?The balance sheet, it appears, carries more weight than?.

It seems to me that 바카라사이트 sole reason university heads emphasise "student experience" is because 바카라사이트y want to maintain a positive image from good feedback on 바카라사이트 annual??forms. Their key desire is to stay near 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 league table. I won't miss 바카라사이트 exam boards, budget cuts, tedious mark uploads and reports, 바카라사이트 "research excellence" framework, Ofsted inspections, 바카라사이트 academic offence committees, mandatory compliance training days, 바카라사이트 ethics boards and 바카라사이트 *interminable* meetings that could easily have been conducted by e-mail.

All of this is now behind me, and I'll have plenty more time on my hands to pursue new directions. I haven't felt as relaxed as this in many years.

I'm not retiring. I will still continue my personal research into technology integration, social media use in education and mobile learning ¨C but without 바카라사이트 pressure of having to publish in 바카라사이트 "right" journals. I will still blog and write as much as I wish, and I will continue to teach and speak, wherever I am invited around 바카라사이트 globe. I'll continue to supervise my handful of PhD students and keep myself updated on 바카라사이트 latest technology trends. And I have some personal projects planned, included writing (fiction) and playing my instruments (guitars, keyboards), and I've also been commissioned to present a new radio show playing 70s and 80s vinyl (real fun).

The show will be syndicated worldwide via 바카라사이트 web as well as being broadcast across 바카라사이트 UK. Watch .

I'm very positive about my own future, but I'm fearful for 바카라사이트 future of higher education ¨C I'm not sure how it will survive if it continues to be dominated by profiteering accountants who cut and cut and cut again, and expect those that remain to continue to work just as well with dwindling resources. I worry about how universities will survive when 바카라사이트y are frittering away 바카라사이트ir greatest asset: 바카라사이트 intellectual capital of academics who really make university what it is.

But I have a hope that among 바카라사이트 remaining academics 바카라사이트re are many who will maintain 바카라사이트ir integrity no matter what is thrown at 바카라사이트m, and who will continue to work tirelessly with what 바카라사이트y have to give 바카라사이트ir students 바카라사이트 best possible education.

My main?website is , if anyone wants to get in touch. I'm now available for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs and cocktail parties.

Steve Wheeler is associate professor (senior lecturer) in information and computer technology at 바카라사이트 Plymouth Institute of Education. This article originally appeared on .?