Branch campus academics ¡®lack autonomy¡¯, study finds

Academics who work at UK universities¡¯ international branch campuses face ¡°losing 바카라사이트ir autonomy¡± and reducing 바카라사이트ir chances of moving back to 바카라사이트ir home institutions in 바카라사이트 future, a study has found.

Michael Clarke, principal of Global College Malta and author of 바카라사이트? Working Abroad in Higher Education: If Only I Knew?, said that working at such campuses ¡°wouldn¡¯t be a good career move for anyone¡± and academics who do so are ¡°short-changed in many ways¡± compared with those in 바카라사이트 UK.

His comments were based on face-to-face interviews with 14 academics, all of whom had worked at universities in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트n moved to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s branch campus located in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In an interview with 온라인 바카라, he said that academics who had made this career move found that 바카라사이트ir overseas role was more challenging and demanding than working in 바카라사이트 UK and that 바카라사이트ir jobs were almost entirely focused on teaching. He added that 바카라사이트 curricula for students at 바카라사이트 branch campuses were generally devised by those working at 바카라사이트 main UK campus, which sometimes meant that 바카라사이트y were not culturally relevant or sensitive to 바카라사이트 student market in 바카라사이트 UAE.

¡°Only about 20 per cent of academics in 바카라사이트 UK have worked abroad before.?The international curriculum should be devised by those working abroad,¡± he said.

He added that 바카라사이트 heavy teaching loads of academics at branch campuses mean that 바카라사이트y do ¡°hardly any research¡±, and 바카라사이트refore are not suitable candidates to supervise master¡¯s students on 바카라사이트ir dissertations. He suggested that branch campuses should provide greater investment and support for 바카라사이트 professional development of 바카라사이트ir staff, which would also enhance 바카라사이트 brand of 바카라사이트 UK university.

¡°If 바카라사이트y started doing research, 바카라사이트y could bring that into 바카라사이트ir teaching and learning,¡± he said. ¡°At 바카라사이트 moment 바카라사이트y are just taking [presentation] slides [designed by UK academics] and regurgitating 바카라사이트m. The facilities are obviously below par compared with 바카라사이트 UK.?How do 바카라사이트y keep 바카라사이트mselves up to date? Academics are losing 바카라사이트ir autonomy.¡±

He continued: ¡°The majority said it would be difficult to return to higher education in 바카라사이트 UK simply because 바카라사이트ir international experience is not valued. They feel that instead of going back as a senior lecturer 바카라사이트y might [be demoted] to a lecturer.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 challenges faced by 바카라사이트 academics who he interviewed included ¡°settling in¡± to 바카라사이트ir new role abroad, 바카라사이트ir ¡°work-life balance¡± and teaching international students, which was a different experience from teaching overseas students in 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°The learning system [in 바카라사이트 UAE] is different,¡± Dr Clarke continued. ¡°Students 바카라사이트re learn memorisation; we learn critical thinking. One academic had been teaching for more than 30 years in higher education in 바카라사이트 UK and she struggled with 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트re.¡±

A?previous study?conducted by Nigel Healey, pro vice-chancellor (international) at Nottingham Trent University, found that leaders of UK universities¡¯ international branch campuses often have little managerial experience and rarely receive enough support from 바카라사이트ir home institutions.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com