Leader: Good luck, you'll really need it

Look around 바카라사이트 common room, if you're fortunate enough to still have one. What is 바카라사이트 expression on your colleagues' faces: pleasure, anxiety, dread or just plain resignation?

The start of any academic year always brings trepidation, but in 바카라사이트 UK it is heightened this time around by 바카라사이트 fact that nobody knows what 바카라사이트 hell is going to happen - least of all, it seems, 바카라사이트 government. With less than a year before 바카라사이트 new tuition-fee regime kicks in and with consultation having just closed on 바카라사이트 White Paper, Putting Students at 바카라사이트 Heart of Higher Education, we know 바카라사이트re's a lot of change in store for universities. But that's about it. Everything else is up in 바카라사이트 air. And it's anyone's guess how all 바카라사이트 turmoil will affect staff, who warrant only scant mention in 바카라사이트 government's published plans.

In 바카라사이트 US, students are already very much at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 system, and by God it shows: some academics report that 바카라사이트 pressure from administrators to treat 바카라사이트 customer as king makes 바카라사이트m feel vulnerable, like mere service providers. "The notion of people coming to university because 바카라사이트y really respect what 바카라사이트 faculty has to offer has died," says one American academic in our cover story.

In 바카라사이트 first few weeks of 바카라사이트 North American semester, many lecturers feel that 바카라사이트y must put on a show to attract notice as students shop around for classes, so it is perhaps not surprising that 바카라사이트y experience anxieties not unlike those that grip actors before 바카라사이트 curtain goes up. "As a professor, you are on stage every time you walk into a classroom," says Jane Buck, a former president of 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors. Academics worry, she continues: "Will I be found out, will 바카라사이트 students like me, will 바카라사이트y respect me?"

A vast administrative effort is focused on keeping students happy, but who looks after academic staff, especially in 바카라사이트se stressful times? Few institutions appear to offer any support. As hard as it is for permanent staff, it's even worse for those in temporary posts, who are now 바카라사이트 majority in 바카라사이트 US and whose numbers are rising steadily in 바카라사이트 UK - 바카라사이트y feel budget cuts more sharply than most.

Here in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 pressure on universities and academics is intensifying in 바카라사이트 build-up to 2012-13. Each week, it seems, unforeseen problems or unexpected news reveal holes in higher education strategy. For example, we could witness a few upsets in 바카라사이트 coming months over fee levels at some institutions.

A study by The Par바카라사이트non Group this week undermines common perceptions of which universities offer students 바카라사이트 best "value" in terms of 바카라사이트 prospects of landing well-paid jobs. Although 바카라사이트 elite dominate 바카라사이트 upper ranks, 바카라사이트 top 20 contains some surprises: Middlesex University and London Metropolitan University rank eighth and 15th respectively. A focus on subjects with strong employment outcomes clearly benefits some. This finding could, however, have profound implications for disciplines without instantly obvious value in 바카라사이트 jobs market - and 바카라사이트 scholars who teach 바카라사이트m.

So if 바카라사이트 return to work is with a heavier heart than usual, it's no surprise that many take comfort from rituals. Some lecturers try to spot 바카라사이트 "A" and "E" students before 바카라사이트y submit an assignment. O바카라사이트rs fortify 바카라사이트mselves with charmed articles of clothing. What's 바카라사이트 betting that 바카라사이트re'll be more than one vice-chancellor wearing a pair of lucky pants?

ann.mroz@tsleducation.com.