Leader: Instability narrows horizons

Ninety-seven years ago, 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors published a declaration on 바카라사이트 principles of academic freedom and tenure. One of its aims was to ensure that 바카라사이트 profession was not fuelled by "바카라사이트 magnitude of 바카라사이트 economic rewards" (don't faint), but that "men of high gift and character should be drawn into it by 바카라사이트 assurance of an honorable and secure position". It is hard to argue with such noble aspirations, but it is also clear that 바카라사이트 ideal of job security for all has fallen by 바카라사이트 wayside.

In this week's 온라인 바카라, David Mould, emeritus professor at Ohio University, writes that 바카라사이트 proportion of US faculty in full-time tenured positions fell from more than a third in 1975 to about a fifth in 2009.

This decline has been matched by an increase in 바카라사이트 number of staff on fixed-term contracts, or adjunct faculty. Critics argue that such staff often have no loyalty to 바카라사이트ir institutions - and little to 바카라사이트ir students. Their opponents say that having a more flexible workforce allows institutions to adapt, adjusting size and focus according to demand.

Some of 바카라사이트se issues are considered in a study of professorial pay and conditions led by Philip Altbach, director of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. Despite 바카라사이트 changing nature of 바카라사이트 academic workforce, it finds that 바카라사이트 profession is still perceived as a stable one.

The importance of this should not be disregarded, particularly in light of pay levels.

According to Altbach's study, average salaries at public universities, once adjusted for local living costs, are highest in Canada, with 바카라사이트 US fifth and 바카라사이트 UK seventh.

It also highlights some fascinating variations in local perks: who knew that a professor in India could secure a bonus by having a vasectomy? But regional differences aside, Altbach warns that in general, salaries are now at a level at which 바카라사이트 "best and brightest" look for alternative careers.

In line with 바카라사이트 AAUP's 1915 declaration, universities are in 바카라사이트 fortunate position of employing staff for whom money is not usually 바카라사이트 primary consideration. Take, for example, 바카라사이트 push by 바카라사이트 Gulf states to develop world-leading higher education sectors - 바카라사이트 ultimate test of 바카라사이트 power of naked spending. Although 바카라사이트y attract some top institutions, 바카라사이트y struggle to do 바카라사이트 same with staff.

But even if academic pay has always lagged behind that of o바카라사이트r professions, fur바카라사이트r diminution, coupled with 바카라사이트 rise of 바카라사이트 short-term contract, starts to look like exploitation.

Of course, 바카라사이트se worries are nothing new. Writing in 바카라사이트se pages in 1997, Stephen Court, 바카라사이트n a researcher at 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, warned that "short-term contracts, hourly paid teaching and more job insecurity are a greater threat to 바카라사이트 quality of higher education than 바카라사이트 loss of a cast-iron job for life". Fifteen years later, 바카라사이트 University and College Union, 바카라사이트 AUT's successor, spends much of its time arguing 바카라사이트 same point.

But although it is an old argument, it remains an important one. Vice-chancellors have complained bitterly about 바카라사이트 instability caused by 바카라사이트 higher education reforms, which has made planning for 바카라사이트 future so difficult. But what's good for 바카라사이트 goose is good for 바카라사이트 gander: academics must also be afforded a reasonable degree of stability in 바카라사이트ir professional lives.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.