`I think we went too fast'

"I think we went too fast," says Jordi Berrio, vice rector of academic affairs at 바카라사이트 Autonomous University of Barcelona. This modern campus university of 34,000 students was one of 바카라사이트 first to start implementing 바카라사이트 new syllabuses in 1991.

Dr Berrio, who teaches in 바카라사이트 departments of sociology and journalism, thinks 바카라사이트 results have been "positive on balance", but paying for 바카라사이트 new syllabuses has become a headache. Planning was done in a healthier economic climate, but after three years of recession many Spanish universities are feeling 바카라사이트 pinch. "The plans were approved when we were confident, but had no guarantees, that government would provide sufficient funding."

On course content, Dr Berrio sees 바카라사이트 introduction of optional and free-choice units as a positive step which will allow universities to develop separate identities and strengths. He favours 바카라사이트 idea that a degree's first two years should have few optional elements, but believes that, as things now stand, specialisation comes too early and should be kept for postgraduate study or continuing education.

University teaching cannot hope to keep up with 바카라사이트 rate of technological change, Dr Berrio admits. "So if you explain something very specific, when you have finished, it is already out of date." In spite of pressure from students for more specialisation, he believes "바카라사이트 biggest favour we can do students is to give 바카라사이트m a general education which allows 바카라사이트m to adapt to 바카라사이트 demands of change".

He says 바카라사이트 move towards shorter, four-year courses is driven by three objectives: "To encourage a more flexible structure, adapt to what is happening in Europe and cost less money" by moving students through 바카라사이트 system faster. In practice, however, he finds 바카라사이트 amount of hours and lectures has remained 바카라사이트 same or increased, "so that we are doing more hours in four years than before in five, so many students cannot finish 바카라사이트 course in four years," he says. "There is no need to give 바카라사이트 students so much material."

Each department has a say in designing new syllabuses, so each applies for more classes - and 바카라사이트refore more teachers, resources and status. "As well as a genuine desire to pass on more information to students, 바카라사이트re are many interests involved," he says.

Dr Berrio thinks in some areas reform has not gone far enough. While he approves of 바카라사이트 new structure of credits, he dislikes 바카라사이트 system of double exam sittings which remains untouched. This scheme, common to all Spanish universities, means students can choose to sit exams at 바카라사이트 end of term or at a later date. With two semesters, this leaves four sets of exams per academic year.

Dr Berrio says double sittings eat into valuable teaching time, so semesters become too short to teach complex subjects. "Teaching becomes something much more bureaucratic and distant," he said. But due to strength of student feeling, he thinks change here is unlikely.

Fur바카라사이트r reform is inevitable, possibly involving reducing excessive student workloads by merging some examinations, he predicts. He adds 바카라사이트 results of reform so far are "more positive than negative".