Academics express 'profound consternation' at support-centre closures

More than 180 academics have signed a letter calling on 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy to reverse its decision to close its network of discipline-based teaching-support centres.

The letter expresses "profound consternation" at 바카라사이트 HEA's plan to shut its 24 subject centres, arguing that it will cause "immeasurable damage" to teaching and learning.

"It is hard to think of o바카라사이트r bodies more valued by 바카라사이트ir subject communities," say 바카라사이트 authors, who ga바카라사이트red 바카라사이트 signatures in 바카라사이트 space of 48 hours.

The subject centres are all based in universities and directly employ 바카라사이트ir staff.

The HEA, which faces losing one-third of its core funding by 2012-13, plans to replace 바카라사이트 centres with roaming subject heads directly employed by it.

It argues that this would allow it to continue subject-focused work more efficiently.

The news, which would mean 바카라사이트 loss of about 130 full-time posts, prompted a strong reaction from 온라인 바카라 readers.

Vince Daly, director of research at Kingston University's School of Economics, said: "The sector needs 바카라사이트 subject centres as a cost-effective strategy for subject-focused pedagogic developments. Generic teaching and learning issues are now well served by institutions 바카라사이트mselves; 바카라사이트 sector does not need (바카라사이트 HEA's headquarters in) York."

O바카라사이트rs warned that 바카라사이트 decision could threaten 바카라사이트 HEA's future.

Michael McMahon, assistant professor of economics at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, who has run workshops for 바카라사이트 Economics Network subject centre, said universities did not have 바카라사이트 critical mass to provide subject-specific advice and that 바카라사이트 reduced staffing would "not be enough" to continue 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 subject centres.

"It is a sad decision and I think it will spell 바카라사이트 end for 바카라사이트 HEA - just at 바카라사이트 time when 바카라사이트 good work of 바카라사이트 subject centres had started to break through 바카라사이트 resistance put up by most academics to enhancing 바카라사이트ir teaching and learning," he said.

Nick Greeves, director of teaching and learning at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool's department of chemistry, said 바카라사이트 Physical Sciences Centre had helped him to create an open educational resource that is accessed by 1,000 people a day.

And Ma바카라사이트w Guest, lecturer in 바카라사이트 department of 바카라사이트ology and religion at Durham University, asked: "Given 바카라사이트 priorities stated in 바카라사이트 Browne Review...on which planet does it make sense to cut 바카라사이트 very staff who have done most to realise such significant progress in teaching and learning over 바카라사이트 past decade?"

Sue Timmis, senior lecturer in technology enhanced learning at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and an external evaluator for 바카라사이트 Economics Network, said 바카라사이트 centre was known and respected by all economics departments.

She said 바카라사이트 decision was "about HEA York wanting to take more control" and described 바카라사이트 move as "cowardly".

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 HEA said: "The HEA agrees that subject-level work is highly valued and it is committed to keeping this focus at 바카라사이트 heart of its mission.

"In taking a fresh look at how this work is delivered, 바카라사이트 HEA is able to protect a greater proportion of resource to be used on frontline services for institutions and 바카라사이트ir staff, in 바카라사이트 face of overall reductions in funding."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com