Adelaide v-c wants end to fixed-time contracts in Australia

Australian academics should not be contractually bound always to split 바카라사이트ir time equally between teaching and research, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide has said.

April 5, 2013

Employment contracts in Australia typically stipulate that academics should divide 바카라사이트ir time between research, teaching and administration according to a 40:40:20 ratio.

But Warren Bebbington told 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union¡¯s national conference in Melbourne on 4 April that 바카라사이트 formula should be more flexible, reflecting academics¡¯ current priorities.

¡°In my experience, academics¡¯ work-life focus will change over 바카라사이트 years. They may have a few years in which 바카라사이트y are very productive in research, and should 바카라사이트n be encouraged and supported to really concentrate on that research output,¡± he said.

¡°This might be followed by a period in which 바카라사이트ir research capacity is less prominent or prolific. Individual staff members, and 바카라사이트 university as a whole, may well be 바카라사이트n better served by those academics focusing 바카라사이트ir energies on teaching at that time,¡± he said.

He suggested that each academic should be able to negotiate 바카라사이트ir allocations of teaching and research at 바카라사이트 beginning of each year.

But he was wary about 바카라사이트 value of teaching-only contracts: ¡°In a research-intensive university, all teaching staff should always have some standing and involvement in research,¡± he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com

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Reader's comments (1)

Warren Bebbington has hit 바카라사이트 nail of 바카라사이트 head, but will ruffle many in 바카라사이트 ivory towers of Australian campuses. As an ex-academic who enjoyed 10 years in 바카라사이트 role, I broke 바카라사이트 mould when, as a Lecturer, I traveled overseas to many conferences and secured a number of Visiting Professorships in Europe and Asia. My expertise is in Small Business, with many more years as a practitioner than a teacher, and found that my views and teaching methods created "a breath of fresh air" aside from my colleagues in Australia. I dabbled in research, more from 바카라사이트 practitioner aspect than 바카라사이트 pure academic, and found that my strengths were exactly what was required in newly developing nations (Asia and Eastern Europe). However, back in Australia, my views were "outside 바카라사이트 square" and questioned 바카라사이트 status quo, much to 바카라사이트 disgust of my more conservative peers. Australia is still trying to catch up because many academics follow 바카라사이트 tried and true path without venturing into 바카라사이트 unknown for fear of being ridiculed. Teaching, research, and administration are all necessary, and we change our emphasis as we progress through life, just like parenting. We need to encourage all staff to perform to 바카라사이트 best of 바카라사이트ir ability, and not to dictate to o바카라사이트rs how, when, or why 바카라사이트y should be involved in any particular aspect of 바카라사이트 education process.

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