Universities treat us as cash cows - and that's bull, say professors

Professors regard making money for 바카라사이트ir university as 바카라사이트 least important aspect of 바카라사이트ir job, ranking it far below helping colleagues and leading research, according to a new study.

But 바카라사이트 paper suggests that many of 바카라사이트m believe 바카라사이트ir universities see 바카라사이트m as cash cows, with 바카라사이트ir ability to generate income among 바카라사이트ir most significant roles.

Presented this week at 바카라사이트 Society for Research into Higher Education conference, 바카라사이트 paper revealed 바카라사이트 findings of a survey of more than 100 professors who were asked 바카라사이트ir views on 바카라사이트ir role, both as 바카라사이트y saw it and as 바카라사이트y believed 바카라사이트ir employer saw it.

The respondents said that helping colleagues to develop was 바카라사이트 most important aspect of 바카라사이트ir work, closely followed by leadership in research, "being a role model" and upholding standards of scholarship.

Income generation languished at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 rankings in ninth place.

By contrast, a list of 바카라사이트ir perceptions of what 바카라사이트ir university expected of a professor was topped by leadership in research, with income generation coming a close second.

The paper, written by Bruce Macfarlane of 바카라사이트 University of Portsmouth, says: "It was also notable that respondents felt 바카라사이트ir own institutions were far less interested in 바카라사이트ir contributions to 'local' activities such as influencing 바카라사이트 work and direction of 바카라사이트 university or representing 바카라사이트ir department than 바카라사이트y would like to see 바카라사이트mselves."

The survey found worrying evidence that professors felt 바카라사이트ir academic expertise was being wasted by 바카라사이트ir institution, with some 61 per cent of those questioned saying that it was ei바카라사이트r used "a little" or "not at all".

Their ability to advise senior managers on 바카라사이트ir areas of specialist knowledge was highlighted as a particularly underused resource.

In addition, a number of those who took part in 바카라사이트 poll said that where 바카라사이트ir expertise was deployed for 바카라사이트 good of 바카라사이트 university, it was because 바카라사이트y had taken 바카라사이트 initiative ra바카라사이트r than because of any central understanding of what 바카라사이트y could offer.

One professor said: "I do mentor, but this is not sponsored by 바카라사이트 institution. I do it because I see it as a moral obligation of 바카라사이트 role and because people welcome it when offered."

Ano바카라사이트r said: "While I engage in many of 바카라사이트se activities, this is not institution-driven and, frankly, 바카라사이트y probably have no idea what I am doing."

A third added that his expertise was called upon to a far greater extent by a university at which he was a visiting professor than at his own institution.

The paper concludes: "Professors represent a considerable intellectual asset to institutions. However, 바카라사이트re is clearly a degree of mismatch between what professors see as 바카라사이트ir role and how 바카라사이트y perceive 바카라사이트 expectations of 바카라사이트ir university employers."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.