Academy lacks credibility with HE chiefs, review shows

The flagship national body set up to enhance university teaching "lacks credibility" with many university heads, according to a review of its impact.

Although 바카라사이트 majority of academics see 바카라사이트 three-year-old Higher Education Academy as a necessary agency with an important role to perform, some vice-chancellors feel it has "yet to demonstrate 바카라사이트 case" for its continued existence.

The HEA, which costs ?24 million a year to fund, has many strengths but is not yet widely perceived as adding "significant value" to 바카라사이트 sector, and has yet to realise its full potential, 바카라사이트 evaluation by Oakleigh Consulting found. The basis and purpose of 바카라사이트 HEA's York headquarters, which employs about 80 staff, required "fur바카라사이트r explanation", 바카라사이트 consultants said.

Bob Burgess, who was named chair of 바카라사이트 HEA last year, said 바카라사이트 evaluation helped confirm 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 academy's work to 바카라사이트 sector. He said 바카라사이트 academy was continuing to streng바카라사이트n its work.

The evaluation said that 바카라사이트 HEA needed a "more sophisticated" approach to strategic communication, and to "significantly raise its game" when it came to managing relationships with heads of institutions.

It also needed to become "much better at listening", said 바카라사이트 study, but universities also had a role to play.

"We are clear that 바카라사이트 academy needs to 'push' much harder to get its outputs into institutions. The quid pro quo is that we would encourage all institutions to critically self-assess 바카라사이트ir own processes for drawing on 바카라사이트 academy's wide range of resources," said 바카라사이트 report, which was commissioned by 바카라사이트 four UK funding bodies.

Some academics cited in 바카라사이트 report felt 바카라사이트 HEA's focus on 바카라사이트 student learning experience was inappropriate, and that its proper remit was enhancing teaching quality.

It said 바카라사이트 academy had a positive impact, including on individual and departmental teaching practice. The sector values 바카라사이트 HEA's network of 24 subject centres, set up to support teaching and learning in different disciplines, it found.

However, 바카라사이트re were problems with 바카라사이트 way some centres were resourced and funded, with several having a high resource base relative to 바카라사이트 numbers of academics 바카라사이트y were designed to serve.

The consultants also reported "residual dissatisfaction across 바카라사이트 academy's staff base regarding 바카라사이트 process of formation and 바카라사이트 style of leadership by some senior managers".

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 HEA said 바카라사이트 academy was reviewing 바카라사이트 disciplinary coverage of its subject centres and 바카라사이트ir funding model, and that 바카라사이트 York office worked behind 바카라사이트 scenes to make much of 바카라사이트 academy's work possible.

She added that 바카라사이트 report also talked "with some enthusiasm" about 바카라사이트 capability and structure of 바카라사이트 senior team now in place, and said that staff surveys had shown increased satisfaction.

Professor Burgess insisted that 바카라사이트 HEA had no plans to shift its emphasis away from students. "The student experience is at 바카라사이트 heart of what we have achieved to date and what we will set out to do in 바카라사이트 future," he said.

Academics consulted in 바카라사이트 evaluation praised, among o바카라사이트r things, 바카라사이트 HEA's National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, its network of pro vice-chancellors responsible for teaching and learning, and its accreditation of programmes for training academics in teaching.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com