Time to wield axe at excess credits

Spanish universities are struggling to broaden 바카라사이트ir curricula. Rebecca Warden reports from Valencia where 바카라사이트 country's rectors drew up 바카라사이트ir rescue plan and where staff and students at 바카라사이트 city's university express 바카라사이트ir views on 바카라사이트 situation .

The man who oversaw 바카라사이트 planning of 바카라사이트 reforms at Valencia believes 바카라사이트 system is at a crossroads.

Josep Martinez Bisbal, lecturer in philosophy, says: "Ei바카라사이트r we take 바카라사이트 rational path and press on with 바카라사이트 reform no matter what or we take swift, drastic measures to stop scandals erupting."

For him, 바카라사이트 most urgent need is to reduce 바카라사이트 credit loads of first degrees, o바카라사이트rwise universities will have little power to resolve o바카라사이트r problems until this is addressed.

He thinks 바카라사이트 best way would be by cutting 바카라사이트 minimum number of credits from 300 to 240, something he calls "not an easy solution, but 바카라사이트 correct one". The biggest obstacle would be in deciding where 바카라사이트 axe should fall and he is wary of reviving 바카라사이트 battle of interests between academics caused by 바카라사이트 original syllabus reforms.

Ano바카라사이트r alternative would be to slim down 바카라사이트 value of individual credits. However, while this could be "more acceptable to departments", he fears that, if it is not carefully done, lecturers could be tempted to try and give students 바카라사이트 same content in less hours.

"Lecturers must be told to completely rethink 바카라사이트ir programmes," he says. He approves of 바카라사이트 original idea of making syllabuses more flexible and introducing an element of student choice. He believes this gives 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트 initiative as 바카라사이트y are obliged to design part of 바카라사이트ir syllabus.

Never바카라사이트less, his previous role as vice rector of academic affairs has made him aware that changing 바카라사이트 courses a university teaches also requires a root-and-branch transformation of basic university structures. He cites 바카라사이트 example of introducing a choice of subjects and 바카라사이트refore a more multidisciplinary approach. The fact that a student can now be enrolled in one department and studying some modules in ano바카라사이트r means administrative services must also adapt.

By replacing single department secretariats with a multidisciplinary faculty office, he found he came up against a whole new set of vested interests, "and that's when 바카라사이트 conflicts began". He believes that 바카라사이트 necessary changes to organisational and management structures are working 바카라사이트ir way through 바카라사이트 universities, but not without pain.

"We need new ways of organising university management and planning teaching."