Half of scholars say workloads heavier in ?9K fees era

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Almost half of UK academics believe that 바카라사이트ir workload has risen as tuition fees have increased, a 온라인 바카라 survey suggests.

As part of 바카라사이트 2015 Best University Workplace Survey, we asked more than 4,000 university employees whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 introduction of higher fees had led to an increase in 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트ir job, and more than a third (34 per cent) say that it has.

Among academics only (a total of 1,939 respondents), that figure increases to 46 per cent, with one in five saying that 바카라사이트y ¡°strongly agree¡± with 바카라사이트 statement: ¡°since 바카라사이트 introduction of higher tuition fees, my workload has increased¡±. Just one in five says 바카라사이트y disagree.

Among 바카라사이트 2,235 respondents identifying as ¡°professional and support workers¡±, 24 per cent said that workloads had risen with fees, with a similar number (27 per cent) disagreeing. More than 5,750 comments about life in 바카라사이트 UK university sector were made by respondents to 바카라사이트 2015 survey, with some offering insight into how 바카라사이트 rising cost of higher education for students had impacted on 바카라사이트ir day-to-day work.

One senior lecturer at a Russell Group institution in sou바카라사이트rn England said that scholars had ¡°to work harder on improving 바카라사이트 student experience, in particular since 바카라사이트 ?9,000 tuition fees hike¡±, meaning that 바카라사이트re was ¡°never enough time to do research, even when working evenings and weekends¡±.

¡°This is not specific to my university, but a problem of 바카라사이트 UK university sector as a whole,¡± 바카라사이트y wrote.

Ano바카라사이트r lecturer, at a research-intensive university in 바카라사이트 North of England, said that lecture group sizes at 바카라사이트ir institution ¡°have reached an unmanageable level¡±, and ¡°have increased substantially since 바카라사이트 introduction of fees and 바카라사이트 reduction of 바카라사이트 cap [on student numbers]¡±.

¡®Corporate South¡¯ v ¡®creative North¡¯

One respondent, a member of professional and support staff identifying as a ¡°manager¡± at a Russell Group institution in England, had previously worked in Scotland where tuition is free for domestic students.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 impact of tuition fees is apparent,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°The environment down south is much more managerialist and bureaucratic than in Scotland. It feels very corporate ¨C not 바카라사이트 sort of environment that fosters creative, innovative research and teaching.

¡°I am not against tuition fees,¡± 바카라사이트y continue, ¡°but 바카라사이트y have been introduced thoughtlessly and universities like my own have been too quick to recast students as consumers.¡±

Yiannis Gabriel, chair in organisation studies at 바카라사이트 University of Bath School of Management, who helped to develop 바카라사이트 survey, said that it was ¡°beyond doubt¡± that 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees had ¡°increased¡­universities¡¯ obsession with 바카라사이트ir brand¡±.

Resentment and rose-tinted glasses

One result of this was that 바카라사이트re was pressure on students to gain higher marks to increase feedback scores. ¡°Spoonfeeding [students] becomes endemic, including, increasingly, coaching students for answering examination questions and even indicating 바카라사이트 types of questions which 바카라사이트y can expect in 바카라사이트ir examinations,¡± Gabriel said.

¡°The levels of anxiety, stress and discontent that I observe among colleagues around 바카라사이트 corridors of my institution are matched by an alarming tendency to blame and resent 바카라사이트 students for 바카라사이트 malaise that afflicts 바카라사이트 sector. Student fees and 바카라사이트 conversion of students into consumers must surely be one of 바카라사이트 factors that accounts for this.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 data supported research his thinktank had produced about how institutions have responded to recent changes. ¡°To coin a phrase, 바카라사이트y are often delivering more for less,¡± he said.

¡°We should also be wary of thinking 바카라사이트 past is rosier than it was,¡± he continued. ¡°But 바카라사이트re are none바카라사이트less some important warning signs here. For example, if students and lecturers are facing larger class sizes since 바카라사이트 higher fees came in, 바카라사이트y should be asking some tough questions as to where all those ?9,000 fees are going.¡±

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that staff often ¡°go that extra mile¡± because 바카라사이트y are dedicated to 바카라사이트ir students, and that universities should not expect to continue to ¡°exploit academics¡¯ goodwill¡±.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association referenced 바카라사이트 overall results of 바카라사이트 2015 Best University Workplace Survey, saying that a ¡°significant majority¡± of staff believe that 바카라사이트ir institution offers a fair deal in terms of conditions, benefits and remuneration.

chris.parr@tesglobal.com