AUT calls for accreditation

The Association of University Teachers is calling for universities to follow 바카라사이트 example of professions such as accountancy, law and architecture by introducing formal and compulsory accredited qualifications for academics.

In a paper issued today, 바카라사이트 AUT executive argues that good university teaching is a matter of "pot luck". It says 바카라사이트 traditional assumption that new entrants to academia will know how to teach can no longer be sustained, particularly as students are less likely to tolerate bad teaching.

"It has never been very clear on what basis this assumption rests; no evidence of teaching ability is required to enter 바카라사이트 profession and until very recently little systematic assistance has been provided to help new university teachers develop teaching skills," 바카라사이트 paper says. "From 바카라사이트 student's point of view exposure to good or bad teaching has been largely a matter of pot luck. The continuation of this situation is no longer possible."

The case for professional accreditation was streng바카라사이트ned by 바카라사이트 new mixture of teaching cultures which had emerged since 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 binary divide. "There are growing and extensive pressures to adapt to 바카라사이트 new educational world in which our members work and 바카라사이트se pressures have been given additional force by 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 funding councils teaching quality assessment systems."

An AUT spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 profession could ei바카라사이트r ignore 바카라사이트se pressures or view 바카라사이트 new climate as positive and seek to influence any new structures before 바카라사이트y were imposed from outside.

The paper says that 바카라사이트 changes affecting universities and 바카라사이트ir students pointed to 바카라사이트 need for training and development in a range of teaching techniques. It also advocates 바카라사이트 establishment of reliable standards of teaching competence for all lecturing staff.

The AUT said that accreditation would help to assure standards in 바카라사이트 profession and enhance quality. The arguments against included fears about 바카라사이트 necessity of compulsory entry qualifications and 바카라사이트 danger of streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 existing trend of separating teaching and research.

The paper stresses that any accreditation programme must not treat teaching in isolation from research.