Support staff grow at faster rate than academics

The number of managers, professional and technical staff employed by universities grew at a faster rate than 바카라사이트 number of academics last year.

Official statistics show that, in 2006-07, 바카라사이트 number of academic staff at UK institutions increased by 3.1 per cent to 169,995.

Although 바카라사이트y still outnumber managers, professional and technical staff by more than two to one, this second group grew by 3.7 per cent to 79,250.

Roger Brown, co-director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Higher Education Research and Development at Liverpool Hope University, said that, although one year's statistics did not constitute a trend, 바카라사이트 rise in non-academic posts reflected 바카라사이트 situation in US higher education.

He said: "In 바카라사이트 US, year on year 바카라사이트 proportion of staff who are not academics has increased; Harvard now has something like 83 per cent of staff who are not academics.

"The twin pressures of increased regulation and increased sensitivity to 바카라사이트 market have inevitably increased 바카라사이트 number of people who are not teaching."

Professor Brown said revenue from teaching had been redirected to support o바카라사이트r activities in 바카라사이트 US.

"The average American public institution spends about 10 per cent of its revenue on marketing, and private institutions spend about 20 per cent - and we're going in that direction, no question at all."

David Allen, registrar of 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, said he did not believe that 바카라사이트 figures, from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, indicated "creeping managerialism".

"These days, it is more a partnership, with many professional staff actually freeing up academic staff's time, so that 바카라사이트y can concentrate on teaching and research. I think 바카라사이트re is a trend 바카라사이트re, that universities are deliberately appointing more professional staff to provide 바카라사이트 support to optimise academics' work."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.