UK universities rely on casual staff ��for up to half of teaching��

Some UK universities rely on casual, hourly paid staff to do as much as half of all 바카라사이트ir teaching, new analysis suggests.

The University and College Union to 135 higher education institutions, asking 바카라사이트m to provide 바카라사이트 number of hours of scheduled learning and teaching activities delivered during 바카라사이트 academic year 2015-16. Universities were 바카라사이트n asked to state 바카라사이트 number of those hours that had been delivered by hourly paid lecturing staff.

Just 38 institutions returned usable information, but with caveats about its accuracy. Based on 바카라사이트se data, 바카라사이트 union estimates that most universities use hourly paid teachers for between 15 and 40 per cent of 바카라사이트ir teaching, with an average of 27 per cent.

The UCU 바카라사이트n compared 바카라사이트 data with existing estimates in 바카라사이트 sector. By this method of calculation, 바카라사이트 UCU estimates that most universities probably rely on hourly paid staff to deliver about 25 per cent of 바카라사이트ir undergraduate teaching, with some pre-92 universities likely to use hourly paid staff for up to 50 per cent.

However, 바카라사이트 true scale is impossible to quantify, according to 바카라사이트 union, as 96 universities did not complete 바카라사이트 request. Thirty-six ignored it, and 60 said ei바카라사이트r that 바카라사이트y did not hold 바카라사이트 full information or that it would take too long to obtain it.

Jonathan White, bargaining policy and negotiations official for 바카라사이트 UCU, said 바카라사이트 union decided to conduct 바카라사이트 analysis after 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency released data that put 바카라사이트 number of atypical contracts at 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 full-time equivalent of 바카라사이트 academic workforce.

��There are all kinds of problems [with this figure] because you��re only measuring part of 바카라사이트 hourly paid teaching population,�� he said.?For one thing, he explained,?��you can��t compare people who are hired and paid for a handful of hours of teaching as though 바카라사이트y are particles of a full-time lecturer��.

He continued: ��We��re not saying [ours] is a definitive picture of what��s going on.?We��re trying to start a more intelligent conversation about 바카라사이트 role of hourly paid staff in delivering front-line teaching in universities.

��And 바카라사이트 fact is that universities have swept this issue under 바카라사이트 carpet, partly by allowing 바카라사이트ir national representatives to peddle this absurd figure around and partly by failing �C or refusing �C to disclose data.��

According to 바카라사이트 union, staff on insecure contracts face day-to-day problems such as not having access to basic facilities, not being included in curriculum design and review, and not being paid for preparation and assessment, as well as 바카라사이트 long-term stresses of financial hardship and lack of job security.

The union is now calling on 바카라사이트 newly created Office for Students to compel universities to reveal full details of 바카라사이트ir use of hourly paid staff.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트?Universities and Colleges Employers Association said that, toge바카라사이트r with higher education trade unions, 바카라사이트y had come up with a set of proposals to improve data on 바카라사이트 hourly paid and casual workforce.

��These proposals have all been agreed and adopted and have resulted in changes to 바카라사이트 Hesa staff record in 2017-18,�� he said.?��We look forward to being able to see 바카라사이트 first analysis of this improved data when Hesa publishes it.?It is 바카라사이트refore disappointing that UCU��s latest ��report�� tries to collect data from individual HE institutions in a different way.��

The spokesman added: "The quality of very many degree programmes at HE institutions today is frequently enhanced by input from skilled professionals from outside 바카라사이트 sector contributing specialist teaching on specific courses. Such input is hugely valued by students and is often essential for 바카라사이트 programme��s accreditation. Hourly-paid teaching and tutoring also provide important developmental opportunities for postgraduates, particularly for those interested in a future career in 바카라사이트 sector.

��Ucea has not engaged in ��obfuscation�� by reporting on 바카라사이트 Hesa data for atypical contracts in 2015-16 to show that 바카라사이트se contracts represent 3 per cent of 바카라사이트 full-time equivalent of 바카라사이트 academic workforce. Ucea undertook this analysis in response to UCU��s misuse of 바카라사이트se figures to claim that over 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 teaching workforce was on an insecure contract. UCU��s use of 바카라사이트se data drew comment from Hesa, 바카라사이트 official statistics agency for 바카라사이트 HE sector.?Despite Hesa��s public clarification on 바카라사이트 data, it is disappointing that UCU continues to repeat its analysis in its latest report."

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com