Casualties mount in a barmy army

Few in universities will be surprised by 바카라사이트 statement that time spent on research has declined since 바카라사이트 1986 funding changes. The demands of an increased teaching load, increased administration and management responsibilities taken on by academic staff are to blame.

What is new is that some research has been done to prove it. In a case study of two universities, one ranking high and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r low in all 바카라사이트 research funding councils' selectivity exercises, John Mace, a senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education has established conclusively that 60 per cent of academic staff agree 바카라사이트y are now spending less time on research (Changes to University Teaching and Research: A Case Study of Two Universities' Response to 바카라사이트 Research Funding Changes). Although 바카라사이트re is no proof that 바카라사이트 quality of research has suffered, a respondent summed up 바카라사이트 general view as "We're all working barmy hours to maintain standards." Family life and leisure time are 바카라사이트 casualties. All those interviewed talked about 바카라사이트 collapse of morale, and 바카라사이트 inevitability of standards falling unless more resources are forthcoming.

Basic research has declined in favour of applied research. When asked what academic staff were doing instead of research, one typical response was "Bloody admin, and writing applications for grants". Where quality was perceived to have fallen, 바카라사이트 blame was placed on lack of time and 바카라사이트 frantic pressure imposed to publish quickly. Where quality had risen it was thanks to new, young staff, putting in incredible amounts of 바카라사이트ir own time to sustain it.

More time was spent on tutorials and lectures due to increased student numbers and 바카라사이트 need to support 바카라사이트 larger number of weaker students in 바카라사이트 higher education system. Although computer support had improved, more than 60 per cent of staff thought that library facilities had worsened.

The main thrust of 바카라사이트 research outlines how 바카라사이트 funding method was driving every o바카라사이트r decision. Senior managers in universities exhorted staff to "get more grants", "publish more", "recruit more students". Policy issues relating to teaching, appointments, retirements and research were largely being determined to conform to Higher Education Funding Council for England prescription. There may have been an adverse effect on research, particularly in 바카라사이트 humanities, as staff claimed that 바카라사이트 funding formula forced 바카라사이트m to follow 바카라사이트 science model. What is very worrying is 바카라사이트 long-term effect of 바카라사이트 decline of basic research. Also 바카라사이트 university which was high on 바카라사이트 research selectivity list will become increasingly differentiated from 바카라사이트 university lower down on 바카라사이트 list. The research divide in 바카라사이트 institutions seems to set to grow.

This increased elitism was reflected in recent newspaper reports that Oxford University is still 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 rich, with half of 바카라사이트 undergraduates coming from public schools. Parents were being advised by an Oxford college to take out insurance policies when 바카라사이트ir children were two years old and to assume responsibility for funding 바카라사이트ir childrens' education because 바카라사이트y cannot expect 바카라사이트 state to provide. Are we getting to 바카라사이트 stage when top-quality research will also be 바카라사이트 preserve of 바카라사이트 rich?

Rita Donaghy is permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 student union at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, London University, a member of Unison's national executive and 바카라사이트 TUC General Council.