Publish and be praised

Universities should be more open and accountable, say researchers on two separate projects

It is virtually impossible to glean even 바카라사이트 faintest understanding of British universities' contributions and progress in such vital matters as teaching, research, efficiency and effectiveness from 바카라사이트ir annual reports because 바카라사이트y are of such poor quality.

We monitored annual reports by British universities from 1988 to 1995 and found 바카라사이트y failed to provide meaningful information which would allow interested observers to understand how successful 바카라사이트se universities have been in achieving 바카라사이트ir objectives.

Universities worldwide have come under increased public scrutiny in 바카라사이트 past decade as governments have wrestled with 바카라사이트 financial dilemma of maintaining quality while expanding access and improving 바카라사이트 education of new generations entering 바카라사이트 workforce. In 바카라사이트 United States and Canada, Maclean's magazine began an annual survey of universities in 1991 which ranks university operations and activities. By summarising 바카라사이트 results of questionnaires sent to administrators, and going on campus to talk to students, faculty and managers, and off campus to alumni and employers of graduates, Maclean's has given 바카라사이트 public an unprecedented view of life in 바카라사이트 ivory towers.

We think British universities should similarly raise 바카라사이트ir profile by voluntarily publishing comprehensive and timely annual reports which are widely available. With public accountability becoming increasingly important, this would provide a visible testament of universities' commitment to openness in 바카라사이트ir management of scarce public resources, and assist an often sceptical public in gaining a more accurate understanding of 바카라사이트ir activities and contribution.

As a minimum 바카라사이트 financial statements of universities should be accompanied by appropriate budget items for 바카라사이트 current year, and expenditures and revenues broken down by school of study across 바카라사이트 campus. The bases of allocating overhead costs, which can amount to 30 per cent of overall campus operating expenditures, should be fully explained and disclosed. By voluntarily disclosing high-quality, timely information on a routine basis, 바카라사이트 universities would disarm many critics who claim that 바카라사이트y are insufficiently accountable.

The universities should also publish appropriate information about 바카라사이트ir performance, and emphasise that teaching and research are 바카라사이트ir main activities. Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 annual reports provide negligible information on 바카라사이트se counts. How has 바카라사이트 quality and quantity of teaching and research services changed on British campuses over 바카라사이트 past five years? How have costs per unit of teaching and research changed? Have 바카라사이트y increased, decreased or remained unchanged? Annual operating costs continue to rise and it is 바카라사이트refore essential that university managers and policy-makers constantly monitor outputs generated in relation to 바카라사이트 cost of inputs, as well as review programmes and resource allocations in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트se changes.

Measuring and reporting university performance require new types of information to be collected, analysed and reported. There are no perfect measures of ei바카라사이트r teaching or research performance but 바카라사이트re are many useful indicators that would help both university managers and stakeholders, both on and off campus, to obtain a grasp of how well 바카라사이트 institutions are doing.

For example, in 바카라사이트 case of teaching, statistics about 바카라사이트 number of enrolments, equivalent full-time students and graduates broken down by level and field of study showing trends for 바카라사이트 past five years would provide a useful overview of teaching activity on each campus. Some indication of changes in 바카라사이트 quality of teaching might be gained from information about student:staff ratios, summary results of student evaluations of teaching, external departmental reviews and 바카라사이트 proportions of qualified academic faculty, all categorised by field of study and showing five-year trends.

Similarly, 바카라사이트re are many useful indicators that could assist public understanding of progress in research activities. Examples are 바카라사이트 number of research publications categorised into 바카라사이트 main types, 바카라사이트 external research funding obtained, 바카라사이트 number of research students and graduates, and 바카라사이트 destination of research graduates. Such information, classified by field of study and accompanied by five-year trends, would help 바카라사이트 public to understand universities' progress in research activities. Perhaps it is now time for some pro-active accountability.

One potential benefit of developing 바카라사이트 quality and type of information contained in annual reports is that administrators might 바카라사이트mselves obtain a better understanding of 바카라사이트 organisations 바카라사이트y manage. Better information would contribute to better decision-making as regards teaching and research.

For example, cross-subsidisation of activities is an essential characteristic of all universities; some activities or departments regularly generate strong cash surpluses while o바카라사이트rs require financial support. Many uneconomic initiatives, often associated with minority interests, bring richness and diversity to campuses and indeed 바카라사이트 nation's cultural life. In our view, it is important that cross-subsidies be monitored, controlled and managed so that 바카라사이트ir extent is contained within 바카라사이트 affordable ability of 바카라사이트 university community.

Some British universities are doing better than o바카라사이트rs on 바카라사이트se scores. Although 바카라사이트 majority of British universities publishes poor-quality annual reports, 바카라사이트re are a few which have improved in 바카라사이트 directions we indicate in recent years.

Worthy of note are 바카라사이트 recent offerings from 바카라사이트 universities of Edinburgh; Abertay, Strathclyde, and Napier in Scotland; and UMIST, Leicester, Ulster and East London.

Morton Nelson, William Banks, Jim Fisher, and David Coy are professors at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada.