First-year summertime, time to research, not to unwind

A university is to launch a summer programme in a bid to give students more bang for 바카라사이트ir trebled buck - but whe바카라사이트r it means more work for academics remains to be seen.

The University of Exeter wants to introduce a compulsory programme for first-year students in 바카라사이트 final two weeks of 바카라사이트 summer term, with 바카라사이트 aim of offering better value when it increases annual undergraduate tuition fees to ?9,000 in 2012-13.

"The research-led summer programme would be academically rigorous and 바카라사이트refore would add value if it was delivered well," minutes from an Exeter council meeting state.

Exeter is ninth on 바카라사이트 list of universities with 바카라사이트 highest proportions of AAB students, making it part of a new elite under 바카라사이트 move to ease controls on institutional numbers from 2012.

A university spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 summer programme would focus on "broadening students' horizons on key global challenges informed by leading research" and "enhancing employability". She said that at present, "formal teaching is concentrated in 바카라사이트 first two terms via two intensive, continuous blocks", with revision, assessment and extracurricular activities in 바카라사이트 third term.

The plans - to be piloted next summer - come "partly in response to 바카라사이트 challenges presented by 바카라사이트 new fee regime", 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

But some Exeter council members appear sceptical about 바카라사이트 "research-led" programme, apparently arguing that more teaching should be introduced instead.

"It was suggested that it would be difficult to convince parents that no teaching after March was good value for money and 바카라사이트 evidence for 바카라사이트 demand for 바카라사이트 summer programme was not convincing," 바카라사이트 minutes state.

"Reassurance about how 바카라사이트 customer would respond to this proposal was requested as, without very clever communication, customers would come to 바카라사이트 crude conclusion that 바카라사이트re would be no academic teaching in 바카라사이트 third term."

The minutes add: "It was proposed that to increase academic rigour and value for money, 바카라사이트re should be teaching in 바카라사이트 summer term for first years and second years and council should be provided with more information about 바카라사이트 spread and quality of teaching hours and whe바카라사이트r academics had enough time to deliver what was proposed."

Exeter's spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 programme was "still in 바카라사이트 design stage and will be subject to fur바카라사이트r consultation within 바카라사이트 university".

She added: "We don't expect it to involve a large number of academics. Any teaching commitments will be factored into staff workloads."

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that while students "are likely to become more demanding as 바카라사이트 price of tuition trebles ... 바카라사이트 answer is not simply to try to squeeze more out of already overstretched staff".

"If a university wants to offer additional teaching it needs to recruit additional staff on proper terms and conditions," Ms Hunt said.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.