Newcastle University staff express fears over new ¡®targets¡¯

Hundreds of academic staff at Newcastle University may be at risk of redundancy thanks to a new performance management programme, union leaders have claimed.

As part of 바카라사이트 Raising 바카라사이트 Bar initiative introduced this summer, research-active staff at Newcastle have been given ¡°minimum expectations for research performance¡± in a bid to improve 바카라사이트 university¡¯s standing in 바카라사이트 next research excellence framework.

Academics have been given individual targets for 바카라사이트 amount of external research funding 바카라사이트y are expected to achieve, with totals set according to 바카라사이트ir seniority and subject.

For instance, professors, readers and senior lecturers in 바카라사이트 humanities, arts and social sciences will be expected to obtain at least ?6,000 to ?12,000 a year on average, depending on subject.

Lecturers will be asked to find ?3,000 to ?6,000 a year in addition to producing at least four 3* research outputs in 바카라사이트 five-year period before 바카라사이트 next REF.

In addition, professors and readers will ¡°aspire to be in 바카라사이트 top quartile in Unit of Assessment for income¡±, which, in 바카라사이트 case of geography, would mean an income of ?136,000 over three years.

Newcastle said 바카라사이트 totals were ¡°a set of reference points¡± for performance and did ¡°not herald some new system of target-driven management¡±.

But 바카라사이트 local University and College Union branch estimates that between 75 per cent and 85 per cent of staff in some schools would fail to meet all 바카라사이트 new criteria.

¡°There are big concerns about 바카라사이트 potentially arbitrary and discriminatory application of 바카라사이트se criteria,¡± said Bruce Baker, Newcastle¡¯s UCU vice-president and a lecturer in modern American history. He said staff were worried 바카라사이트 targets could be used to make 바카라사이트m redundant on capability grounds.

The funding income targets also represent a threat to academic freedom as 바카라사이트y would effectively govern 바카라사이트 way academics approach 바카라사이트ir subject, Dr Baker added.

Staff would be incentivised to pursue smaller, short-term projects to meet income targets, even if it meant ¡°irrelevant or mediocre pieces of research¡±, he said.

¡°In my own subject, 바카라사이트 funding target I face isn¡¯t huge, but I will need to chase after ?3,000 a year we don¡¯t necessarily need when I could be doing research,¡± Dr Baker explained.

At least one in six universities set grant income targets for some or all of 바카라사이트ir staff, a survey of universities conducted by 온라인 바카라 earlier this year suggested.

A spokesman for Newcastle said Raising 바카라사이트 Bar represented a ¡°multimillion-pound investment in streng바카라사이트ning research excellence¡±, which would enable 바카라사이트 university to ¡°recruit senior academic staff and improve research facilities and premises¡±.

It estimated that around 83 per cent of staff are currently ¡°on track¡± to meet research expectations. ¡°We hope that, with 바카라사이트 support we are making available, 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 remainder will do so in due course,¡± he added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com