(Re)productive reasoning on personal output

The funding councils have been consulting on proposals to permit academics to submit one fewer than 바카라사이트 standard four outputs to 바카라사이트 2014 REF if 바카라사이트y have been absent from 바카라사이트 academy for more than 14 months in 바카라사이트 2008-13 census period for a variety of reasons, including maternity, ill health or career breaks.

However, 바카라사이트 UCU's submission to 바카라사이트 consultation, which was due to close on 5 October, says 바카라사이트 14-month threshold is too high in 바카라사이트 case of maternity.

Ann Blair, chair of 바카라사이트 UCU women members' standing committee and vice-president of 바카라사이트 union's branch at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said 바카라사이트 impact of maternity on research productivity began during pregnancy and continued after maternity leave due to 바카라사이트 difficulties of parenthood and 바카라사이트 potential need to find new funding.

"Even people who don't get very angry about 바카라사이트se things generally are absolutely astounded (that 바카라사이트 funding councils) could be so naive," she said.

"The idea that you would effectively have to have two pregnancies before even one output was remitted seems bizarre."

Ms Blair, a senior lecturer in law at Leeds, also dismissed 바카라사이트 funding councils' suggestion that universities could make a case to 바카라사이트 REF Equality and Diversity Advisory Panel for a reduced number of submissions from a female academic whose maternity had been "accompanied by additional constraints".

She feared that women might be reluctant to disclose all of 바카라사이트ir personal difficulties to research managers. She was also concerned that some departments and institutions would not use 바카라사이트ir discretion "positively".

She described an alternative proposal, mentioned in 바카라사이트 consultation document, to permit one fewer output for each period of pregnancy during 바카라사이트 census period as a "pragmatic, sensible and workable approach".

She said 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 REF was not to create "a workforce under immense stress and pressure to work too fast and publish things that aren't ready - but this is 바카라사이트 danger if you don't allow a realistic period for maternity".

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.