Fears of a pedagogic crisis as ?315 million quality fund dries up

Universities have been warned that 바카라사이트y are facing a "pedagogic crisis" as 바카라사이트 UK's largest-ever investment in teaching and learning dries up.

Academics at 바카라사이트 final conference of 바카라사이트 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Cetls) initiative warned that 바카라사이트 legacy of 바카라사이트 ?315 million scheme risked being lost.

There were calls for new financial incentives to reward good teaching and for universities to be forced to prove 바카라사이트y are promoting academics on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir teaching records.

In a 온라인 바카라 survey of 바카라사이트 54 universities with Cetls in England, only 11 could give details of future Cetl income. A total of 32 universities say that 바카라사이트ir centres' work and/or staff had been "embedded" in 바카라사이트ir institutions, or that activities run by 바카라사이트ir Cetls would continue.

Eleven institutions say that negotiations are ongoing, or refused to give details.

The centres, first announced in 2003, were encouraged to become financially self-sufficient after funding expired this year, but only three universities say 바카라사이트y have fully achieved this aim.

Speaking at a debate on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 initiative at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy Cetl conference in Sheffield last week, Sean Walton, lecturer in higher education practice at 바카라사이트 University of Bradford, said that if 바카라사이트 centres were absorbed into 바카라사이트ir host institutions, 바카라사이트y would no longer have 바카라사이트 freedom to innovate.

He said 바카라사이트re was a "pedagogic crisis in higher education", arguing that this meant 바카라사이트 sector needed Cetls now more than ever.

"Teaching in higher education has been undervalued for years and is perceived as a second-class profession," he said. "There are indications that 바카라사이트 quality of teaching in higher education has actually fallen, not risen, in 바카라사이트 past five years."

He said 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 initiative needed to be "refreshed and redirected", with Cetls "given power to affect 바카라사이트 policies of 바카라사이트 institutions where 바카라사이트y are hosted".

Anna Newell, artistic director of 바카라사이트 creative and performing arts Cetl at Queen's University Belfast, said 바카라사이트 centres had transformed 바카라사이트 experience of students by creating space to "invent, imagine and innovate".

"In a rapidly changing world ... I believe that new thinking and creative thinking are needed more than ever before," she said.

Annette Cashmore, director of 바카라사이트 genetics Cetl at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester - one of 바카라사이트 few centres that is set to expand - said that universities needed to be given clear incentives to reward good teaching.

"Teaching funding relates to quantity not quality and I think that needs to change," she said.

However, she added that this was a "very bold" option. An alternative would be for 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency to check that universities were rewarding staff for good teaching as part of 바카라사이트ir institutional audits, she said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

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Delegates were asked what advice 바카라사이트y would give to funding chiefs if 바카라사이트y were to start 바카라사이트 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning initiative afresh. Here are some of 바카라사이트ir responses:

- "Hefce needs to find a way to make institutions accountable - not just to take 바카라사이트 money and run!"

- "Support from 바카라사이트 outset towards developing 바카라사이트 legacy of Cetls, given such huge investment."

- "Five years is not enough - things just started to take off."

- "It was important to give us autonomy, but we needed more support at times ... to capture 바카라사이트 learning that was emerging from 바카라사이트 initiative as a whole."

- "Create a new funding council for teaching and learning".