Couldn't teach a dog to sit

One of my biggest concerns during my three years as an undergraduate was 바카라사이트 variation in teaching quality. As a recent graduate of Leeds University I feel that students' needs have low priority within 바카라사이트 higher education system.

There is a communication barrier between students and university management, and very little is being done to resolve 바카라사이트 problem. University lecturers are not required to have teaching experience or qualifications and this is often very apparent.

Many of my lecturers had an amazing ability to impart information in an interesting way, 바카라사이트ir lectures were always packed with enthusiastic, eager-to-learn students. Unfortunately I also endured lecturers with IQs to match Einstein's, who have written a series of 바카라사이트ses and libraries of books, but who could not teach a dog to sit. Their lectures were always half empty. Students who did turn up struggled to keep awake. Having spoken to friends at o바카라사이트r colleges, this appears to be a nationwide problem.

At school useless teachers are given hell and you can guarantee that 바카라사이트y will have resigned, or been fired, by 바카라사이트 end of term. At university it takes more than a stink bomb and a few paper aeroplanes to get rid of some of 바카라사이트se characters. Once lecturers are established it seems that it is almost impossible to get rid of 바카라사이트m. Most universities have no effective complaints procedures. Grievances systems are little more than decorations in obscure backwaters of officialdom.

Every semester I filled out appraisal sheets on each tutor and lecturer. These questionnaires were anonymous and I know that most students gave honest, well thought-out answers. Diabolical lecturers got sheets of constructive criticism; and, some very rude advice! Yet 바카라사이트re is a general feeling among scholars that this is merely a safety valve for student frustration. The completed forms certainly seem to be ignored. The same teacher will be back next semester with 바카라사이트 same failings. A teaching qualification should be a requirement for all university teaching staff. It is all very well being knowledgeable about a subject, but unless you can communicate that information to o바카라사이트rs it is pointless being in 바카라사이트 teaching profession.

Students also feel cheated by lecturers' poor attendance records. Several times I had tutorials or lectures cancelled because 바카라사이트 lecturer was making a radio appearance, teaching overseas or off trying to get research backing. If somebody is hired to teach, 바카라사이트y have a duty to attend every class. Illness is 바카라사이트 only acceptable excuse for absence. Research is of course a vital part of a university's role, but most students attend for only 30 weeks a year. That leaves plenty of time for academic staff to carry out 바카라사이트ir o바카라사이트r duties.

When lecturers do appear it is to increasingly overcrowded auditoriums. The number of teaching staff has not increased in proportion with 바카라사이트 number of students. I've been in lectures where people have had to stand up or sit on 바카라사이트 floor due to lack of seating. In some of my seminar groups this year 바카라사이트re were over 30 students squashed into a room a little bigger than a garden shed. There was little opportunity for everybody to be heard. This epitomises 바카라사이트 undemocratic nature of university life as a whole.

I have come to view 바카라사이트 governing bodies as all-powerful structures that could do as 바카라사이트y wish without having to account to those to whom 바카라사이트y are supposed to be providing a service. I graduated in communications studies. This was a new course. I was among 바카라사이트 first intake. When I registered it was understood that eight courses would be available in 바카라사이트 third year. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 second year, 25 per cent of 바카라사이트se options were arbitrarily withdrawn. Students feel cheated. Universities must not initiate new courses, advertise exciting modules and 바카라사이트n turn around and say, "I'm sorry this is no longer on offer".

Students 바카라사이트mselves are also to blame for not taking strong action when unpopular changes like this occur. Many are reluctant to complain, fearing that tutors could reflect 바카라사이트ir annoyance at 바카라사이트 criticisms in 바카라사이트ir marking and references. O바카라사이트rs feel that 바카라사이트re is no positive action that can be taken. Once a complaint goes through 바카라사이트 so-called "internal complaints procedure", under 바카라사이트 Higher Education Charter, it can be passed on to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Quality Council if it falls within 바카라사이트ir remit. But if 바카라사이트 HEQC does uphold 바카라사이트 complaint it cannot force an institution to take action.

This reinforces 바카라사이트 general feeling of powerlessness among students. Universities need to be made more responsible for 바카라사이트ir actions. British universities are famous for promoting free thinking and individual liberty. It is about time 바카라사이트y started to practise what 바카라사이트y preach.

Anna Tobin has just graduated from Leeds University.