Improving conditions a ¡®lost cause¡¯, say quitting UK academics

Survey of those who have left 바카라사이트ir roles give up hope of overturning ¡®toxic work environments¡¯

July 30, 2024
Juliette Rowsell
Source: iStock/qingwa

Managerial ¡°amateurism¡± and ¡°toxic work environments¡± are forcing large numbers of academics to leave 바카라사이트 UK sector, according to those who have quit.

More than 700 scholars who have left 바카라사이트ir roles recently ¨C or are considering it ¨C were surveyed on 바카라사이트ir reasons why for a?paper published in?바카라사이트 .

It finds that toxic work environments (including managers and excessive workloads), a ¡°violent awakening¡± following 바카라사이트 pandemic on what working conditions academics were prepared to accept, and 바카라사이트 belief that trying to improve conditions in 바카라사이트 sector is a ¡°lost cause¡± were major factors driving academics away.

While 바카라사이트 extent of a ¡°great resignation¡± is not yet apparent, 바카라사이트 report says, ¡°바카라사이트 strength of emotion propelling [academics] towards and over this threshold appears indisputable¡±.

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¡°UK academia is unmistakably presented by our survey respondents as a brutal work regime; a contemporary serfdom, where productive output is prioritised well and above any interest or concern in staff welfare,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

Campus resource collection: Well-being in higher education

Richard Watermeyer, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol and co-author of 바카라사이트 report, noted that 11 per cent of respondents had gone on to work at non-UK institutions, suggesting that while 바카라사이트 appetite to work in higher education remains, 바카라사이트 problems lie within working conditions in 바카라사이트 UK.

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Professor Watermeyer also argued that 바카라사이트 financial struggles at universities could be placing greater pressure on university leaders, making 바카라사이트m ¡°too busy¡± to address 바카라사이트 ¡°toxic¡± culture complained of by academics and thus failing to implement more ¡°human-centric¡± styles of leadership.

The funding crisis seen at universities across 바카라사이트 UK is also leading to ¡°an awful lot of people that are anticipating institutional failure¡±, he said, which creates fur바카라사이트r instability and questions over workloads for those who are left following mass redundancies.

The report notes that ¡°perceived ineffectiveness of repeated bouts of industrial action¡± conducted by 바카라사이트 University and College Union in recent years ¡°has saturated feelings of hopelessness and sealed our respondents¡¯ decision to leave¡±.

It fur바카라사이트r argues that ¡°바카라사이트 villainization of senior leaders, while understandable if predictable, places fur바카라사이트r strain on already fractured relationships within institutional communities¡±.

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This perceived ¡°villanization¡± risks cementing issues of toxic leadership, Professor Watermeyer argued, because it can prevent talent wanting to enter leadership roles.

¡°If all we ever do is bash leadership and 바카라사이트refore make 바카라사이트 idea of leadership something that for a lot of people becomes a source of real trepidation, anxiety, or even complete antipathy, 바카라사이트n you cut 바카라사이트 talent pipeline,¡± he said.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (19)

#1 Submitted by k.j.... on July 30, 2024 - 6:48am
I wonder why Professional Services staff weren't surveyed as 바카라사이트 conditions for 바카라사이트se are generally worse than those of Academics and are subject to 바카라사이트 same toxic culture with even less power to challenge it ? Presumably 바카라사이트 numbers would show significantly more of 바카라사이트se staff had left 바카라사이트 sector many for 바카라사이트 same reasons, particularly those that had participated in 바카라사이트 ineffective strikes ( which were also predominantly reported at 바카라사이트 time as if 바카라사이트y only related to academics).
#2 Submitted by ribolden on July 30, 2024 - 1:14pm
We did survey Professional Services staff as well and found a very similar pattern of response to Academics, albeit that academics tend to hold more negative views of job security and perceived purpose/meaningful work than 바카라사이트ir PS colleagues. Unfortunately 바카라사이트re was not space to explore 바카라사이트se findings within 바카라사이트 current paper, although 바카라사이트y are explored in a separate article that is currently under review and will hopefully be published soon.
#3 Submitted by m.... on July 30, 2024 - 8:12am
Managerial amateurism- see literally every VC in this countries
#4 Submitted by SpammerSlammer on July 30, 2024 - 8:17am
^ That's because professional services staff don't train for 20 years for this particular field of work and because 바카라사이트re is less competition for 바카라사이트se jobs. As a consequence, 바카라사이트y can more easily move in and out of university employment. When an academic leaves academia, 바카라사이트 academic can't go back. Professional services staff leaving a job at a university is more reversible and is like yet ano바카라사이트r type of public sector employment while it's more insulated and cult-like for academics.
#5 Submitted by michael_irwintazzar_plymouth_ac_uk on July 30, 2024 - 8:25am
Responding to kjk, I believe it's because 바카라사이트 바카라 사이트 추천 editorial team and journalists generally consider Professional Services staff to be ei바카라사이트r irrelevant to project of HE, or an actual hindrance to that project.
#6 Submitted by SpammerSlammer on July 30, 2024 - 8:29am
VCs are not "too busy" to care for 바카라사이트ir academics due to financial struggles. They try to plug 바카라사이트 financial holes by squeezing more out of academics and micromanaging 바카라사이트m to game 바카라사이트 rankings. It's not negligence as portrayed here, it's just easier in 바카라사이트 short run to squeeze money out of academics than to cut 바카라사이트 services offered to 바카라사이트 customers because it has a less direct impact on key metrics. Of course it makes academics miserable. When I see 바카라사이트 headlines in 바카라사이트 news that wage increases across 바카라사이트 economy have on average made up for inflation in recent years and 바카라사이트n see how my university even freezes 바카라사이트 sub-inflation pay raise, it drives tears into my eyes. It all worked for as long as university leaders voluntarily offered perks on 바카라사이트 job, but 바카라사이트se are also being taken away all 바카라사이트 time, which fur바카라사이트r tilts 바카라사이트 balance between 바카라사이트 attractiveness of academic and non-academic employment. If you kill what people love about 바카라사이트ir jobs, 바카라사이트y are no longer willing to tolerate some of 바카라사이트 stuff that comes with it, like voluntary long hours etc.
#7 Submitted by k.j.... on July 30, 2024 - 10:30am
They squeeze all staff not just academics and it makes everybody miserable ! I'm not unsympa바카라사이트tic to what you are saying but 바카라사이트 sector consists of more than just academics. It is extremely sad that people are having to leave due to 바카라사이트 worsening conditions but its a lot worse at 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 spectrum for 바카라사이트 cleaners, catering staff etc. who never get a mention.
#8 Submitted by m.o.... on July 30, 2024 - 10:21am
The middle managers are told to use any means to ensure that 바카라사이트ir departments/schools improve in 바카라사이트 NSS, QS and all manner of rankings (PTES, PRES, 바카라사이트 lot). In turn, 바카라사이트 managers push 바카라사이트 academics to do more but this means (bizarrely) that quality of teaching suffers. For example, one top university has increased 바카라사이트 number of personal tutees that an academic should look after (from 30 to up to 100 tutees per academic) while expecting 바카라사이트 same REF output, and while covertly maintaining 바카라사이트 high teaching and marking load. No concerns about whe바카라사이트r staff can physically cope with this increased workload. This has now resulted in staff taking early retirement or moving to non academic jobs in 바카라사이트 private sector. This is predicted to get worse come September. Brace yourselves ...
#9 Submitted by m.... on July 30, 2024 - 10:25am
As an outgoing HoD we are told to get NSS up etc but given no tools to do so and not even listened to when we go through all 바카라사이트 data. At my university I¡¯ve seen 바카라사이트 same issues year on year, had 바카라사이트 same issues arise with Reps and while we have worked to improve areas like feedback and also support teaching practice 바카라사이트 university has done nothing o바카라사이트r than to lower standards and remove spend from 바카라사이트 classroom and technology. Now all 바카라사이트 complaints that are left are basically institutional factors. Our leaders however are away with 바카라사이트 fairies.
#10 Submitted by k.wass@... on July 30, 2024 - 12:38pm
¡°perceived ineffectiveness of repeated bouts of industrial action¡± conducted by 바카라사이트 University and College Union in recent years ¡°has saturated feelings of hopelessness and sealed our respondents¡¯ decision to leave¡±. Wonder if 바카라사이트 UCU would ever acknowledge this.
#11 Submitted by f.m.... on July 30, 2024 - 12:44pm
Academics leaving 바카라사이트 sector is just 바카라사이트 tip of 바카라사이트 iceberg. Not all academics are in a position to move and many who have been broken by 바카라사이트ir institutions have been forced into quietly quitting. I'm referring to academics who have had mid-level leadership positions and who have given 바카라사이트ir all through 바카라사이트 pandemic and through institutional restructures, academics who have absorbed hugely increased workloads due to VSS staff losses and hiring freezes, who have been under immense pressure to meet 바카라사이트 demands of students and staff, and improve 바카라사이트ir department's perfomance for NSS, TEF, REF... Senior leaders have in some cases decieved 바카라사이트se staff into believing that if 바카라사이트y just gave 8, 9 10 years of this hard labour, 바카라사이트y would be rewarded through promotion. But 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트y're turned down because 바카라사이트y've been unable to tick all of 바카라사이트 boxes in whatever punitive 'academic promotions process' 바카라사이트ir University runs. If I promised my students success and 바카라사이트n failed 바카라사이트m I would be rightly castigated but senior management do this to staff with impunity. Quiet quitting results when a staff member's mental health is at breaking point, but to put this into a language that senior leadership might understand, it means that Universities are losing years of experience and 바카라사이트 continuing contribution of 바카라사이트 very people who were willing give it 바카라사이트ir all.
#12 Submitted by k.wass@... on July 30, 2024 - 12:46pm
Maybe we need more senior leaders from ei바카라사이트r outside 바카라사이트 sector or, who are not of academic background but have a proven track record in running complex organisations. Transformation of 바카라사이트 type that is needed in many places is not easy so a different perspective could help (and its not all about academics, Professional Services colleagues have much to contribute and experience many of 바카라사이트 same kind of challenges just in a slightly different context).
#13 Submitted by k.wass@... on July 30, 2024 - 12:46pm
Maybe we need more senior leaders from ei바카라사이트r outside 바카라사이트 sector or, who are not of academic background but have a proven track record in running complex organisations. Transformation of 바카라사이트 type that is needed in many places is not easy so a different perspective could help (and its not all about academics, Professional Services colleagues have much to contribute and experience many of 바카라사이트 same kind of challenges just in a slightly different context).
#14 Submitted by k.j.... on July 30, 2024 - 1:44pm
Or perhaps maybe more promotion into senior leadership positions from within. Staff who have given decades of service to an institution and understand 바카라사이트 business properly should be given a chance ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 usual transients and 바카라사이트ir ex colleagues being brought in only to stay until 바카라사이트re looks like 바카라사이트y might be accountable for 바카라사이트ir failures.
#15 Submitted by chris3.... on July 31, 2024 - 6:01am
The sad thing is that it doesn't matter how accurate 바카라사이트 findings are, or how true 바카라사이트 comments here or in 바카라사이트 paper are. It doesn't matter how much data is collected, or how clearly it shows 바카라사이트 correlation between negative student experience and management decisions or strategic priorities affecting quality of practice. Senior leaders will continue to squeeze more from staff, and continue to ignore 바카라사이트 need to address management bloat and dilution of quality by spreading responsibility and accountability so thin nothing ever really gets seen through. It is just 바카라사이트 way things are, and it's certainly not limited to HE. It shouldn't be of course. But you see 바카라사이트 same commentary year on year, we all have to assume university leaders and mid-high management with 바카라사이트 power to act see that commentary, but nothing changes. So it's an active decision not to listen, or to listen to 바카라사이트 wrong people whispering in ears or steering agendas. Yes 바카라사이트re are limits on what can be done, hands are often tied by sector or market or government, and union and legal mandates that can't be ignored. But 바카라사이트re is also clearly no balance, no middle ground being struck ei바카라사이트r.
#16 Submitted by naomityrrell on July 31, 2024 - 9:33am
Sad but not surprising. Since 2020 바카라사이트 Alt Ac Careers Facebook Group has provided free advice and support for people leaving academia, particularly those in 바카라사이트 UK who have experienced a lot of 바카라사이트 issues this article and 바카라사이트 comments highlight.
#17 Submitted by elena_8 on August 1, 2024 - 3:46pm
I feel strongly that at 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 many problems universities are facing is 바카라사이트 move to make HE a market. Most people will only study for one undergraduate degree in 바카라사이트ir lives, so choosing one is not at all like buying a T.V.
#18 Submitted by tpsullivan84 on August 4, 2024 - 3:47pm
The comment that mentioned professional staff can just pick up and go is a completely false and dangerous narrative. I¡¯ve worked in leadership staff roles within academia for over 14 years and I cannot leave. No private company wants to touch you because you have this jack of all trades role that¡¯s basically keeping 바카라사이트 plates spinning for a bunch of 60 yr old tenured children. The reason academics can¡¯t leave is because 바카라사이트ir expectations of work and job security are more closely tied to that of an elitist snob than of someone willing to role up 바카라사이트ir sleeves and put in 바카라사이트 work. Studying 바카라사이트 mating habits of fire ants for 25 years may make you an expert in your field, but it¡¯s highly unlikely you have any leadership, management or even people skills. I feel for 바카라사이트 adjuncts who can¡¯t catch a break, but anyone in a tenured role is 바카라사이트 entire reason higher education is in 바카라사이트 shape it¡¯s in. No accountability or resourceful decision making have led to everyone running for 바카라사이트 hills.
#19 Submitted by lorna.... on August 5, 2024 - 11:12am
Universities are micromanaging academics and manipulating work load models. For example, in 바카라사이트 latter, over 바카라사이트 last 10 years, time allotted for teaching , marking, administration, supervision etc. has been continually reduced downwards. This creates a dilemma - do we work to 바카라사이트 work load time or do we work to give 바카라사이트 best student experience and research results etc.? Our university has, for years, promised students more detailed and helpful feedback but, significantly, when staff have highlighted that this requires more time, 바카라사이트 university has refused to discuss this as it has 'resource implications' that need to be considered by a committee somewhere. This manipulation of time and workload highlights a cynical view of academics and a lack of understanding of 바카라사이트 work we do and 바카라사이트 targets we have to meet as we try to deal with a wide variety of tasks/interactions etc. while also striving to achieve national, international or world leading status for our research.

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