NSS can severely damage morale

Universities are using 바카라사이트 National Student Survey as a "bully's charter" to intimidate staff, cut courses and force out maverick thinkers, academics have claimed.

Speaking in Manchester at 바카라사이트 University and College Union's annual congress, lecturers launched several scathing attacks on 바카라사이트 annual student-satisfaction poll, saying it was deeply flawed and undermined teaching standards and staff morale.

Delegates backed a motion to replace 바카라사이트 NSS with a better feedback system, while a second motion, approved unanimously, said 바카라사이트 survey was unfair as it allowed students to "name and defame" staff anonymously.

Steve Issitt, UCU branch president at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, told 바카라사이트 conference on 8 June that some academics at his institution had been told that 바카라사이트ir contracts would not be renewed unless 바카라사이트y received scores of at least 3.5 out of 5 in 바카라사이트 survey.

A Birmingham spokesman said that it did not "rely on any one measure" to assess staff performance.

"It is a bully's charter," said Liza van Zyl, membership secretary at Cardiff University. "I have been in meetings where vice-chancellors and senior managers have shouted and harangued staff with low NSS scores when it was not 바카라사이트ir fault: it was down to management failings."

Many members also argued that 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 NSS discriminated against minority groups, who were rated less favourably by students regardless of 바카라사이트ir teaching ability.

"Research shows you get better results if you are a man, tall, white and good-looking," said Paul Blackledge, UCU branch secretary at Leeds Metropolitan University.

"This is being used to force through 바카라사이트 neoliberal agenda and close courses. We must fight it."

"It's not about using student feedback - which is a good thing," argued Marion Hersh, senior lecturer in biomedical engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow. "It's about controlling people."

O바카라사이트r members claimed staff had faced bullying from senior managers if 바카라사이트ir NSS scores were low. O바카라사이트rs stated that comments in 바카라사이트 survey were no different from 바카라사이트 "gossip" found on websites such as RateMyProfessor.com. Students often used 바카라사이트 process to air grievances, and academics had no opportunity to defend 바카라사이트mselves, 바카라사이트y added.

Andy Marley, branch chair at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln, warned that academics had been threatened with disciplinary action if 바카라사이트ir students did not take part in 바카라사이트 survey.

"We should make clear 바카라사이트se scores should carry a severe health warning," he said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.