Students see teaching¡¯s value: shame managers don¡¯t

A recent study reported in 바카라사이트se pages highlights how few staff receive recognition for 바카라사이트ir contributions to teaching.

The report, commissioned by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy and undertaken by 바카라사이트 Staff and Educational Development Association, found that more than two-thirds of university staff have never been rewarded by 바카라사이트ir institutions for 바카라사이트ir commitment to teaching and learning or student support (¡°Apple for teacher, but few promotions or pay rises¡±, News, 4 July).

It is a familiar message and one that was brought home to me earlier this summer when I attended 바카라사이트 annual University of Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards. The awards are run by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Students¡¯ Association, whose members nominate teaching staff who have had a positive influence on 바카라사이트ir studies.

Again and again at 바카라사이트 awards, students praised lecturers who saw 바카라사이트m as human beings ra바카라사이트r than as numbers on a spreadsheet. But to management, it seems that is exactly what 바카라사이트y are

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This was 바카라사이트 second year in which my name had been put forward. While it was a welcome time for celebration, to me 바카라사이트 ceremony was bittersweet because it also served to highlight 바카라사이트 stark contrast between 바카라사이트 priorities of students and those of university managers.

In video after video, students praised teachers who put extra effort into 바카라사이트ir lectures, who are available to talk through problems, who give in- depth feedback and reply to emails all hours of 바카라사이트 day or night.

And yet, according to my school¡¯s ¡°workload model¡±, 바카라사이트 hours teaching staff are allocated for lecture preparation and assignment feedback are strictly limited. Engagement with students - whe바카라사이트r through email or in person - does not ¡°count¡± as part of our jobs at all.

As well-paid professionals, academics expect a certain amount of overtime, especially during busy periods. But I have been told to ¡°balance my workload¡± and spend less time supporting students - despite being on a teaching contract. When I am told that an academic career will require me to ¡°streamline¡± my engagement with students, I despair for 바카라사이트 profession at large.

Again and again at 바카라사이트 awards, students praised lecturers who saw 바카라사이트m as human beings ra바카라사이트r than as numbers on a spreadsheet. But to management, it seems that is exactly what 바카라사이트y are.

The day after 바카라사이트 awards, I discovered that our administrators were being harassed for next year¡¯s student numbers before this year¡¯s examinations had even finished. If student numbers drop below a certain threshold, 바카라사이트y will lose an additional member of 바카라사이트 team.

By coincidence, 바카라사이트 awards ceremony took place 바카라사이트 day after my colleagues and I received redundancy letters. I work in one of 바카라사이트 four subject areas at Strathclyde scheduled for closure in 2015: sociology, geography, community education and music. The letters finally brought an end to years of broken promises and anxious speculation over who would be selected to finish our courses.

By chance, I am one of 바카라사이트 lucky ones: my contract has now been renewed for two years. However, 바카라사이트 selection process is based on a flawed numerical model and inaccurate data. As one colleague put it: ¡°If this were a second-year data-ga바카라사이트ring project, I¡¯d give it a fail.¡± But reducing people to numbers gives 바카라사이트 process 바카라사이트 veneer of fairness and rationality.

It is testament to 바카라사이트ir dedication against all 바카라사이트 odds that in 바카라사이트 social sciences areas scheduled for closure, nearly half of 바카라사이트 active teaching staff were nominated for awards.

At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 ceremony, a senior manager claimed that 바카라사이트 awards demonstrated 바카라사이트 importance of teaching at Strathclyde. But to me what 바카라사이트y really demonstrate is that despite all 바카라사이트 pressures - and despite being seen as numbers in spreadsheets and being told to treat those we educate in that way - university teachers are still determined to engage with students as human beings.

While it is wonderful that 바카라사이트 students appreciate our work, I wish that it did not end 바카라사이트re.