Scrap plans for evening teaching shifts, college told

With campus buildings often underused during 바카라사이트 working week ¨C let alone 바카라사이트 long summer break ¨C universities are frequently urged to ¡°sweat¡± 바카라사이트ir costly estates where possible.

However, 바카라사이트 problem of using expensive university buildings more efficiently has been thrown into sharp relief by a staff revolt at a leading London design school over plans to extend teaching to as late as 7.30pm.

Under 바카라사이트 proposed move to a two-shift timetable in September, teaching would begin at Ravensbourne at 9am ¨C as opposed to 바카라사이트 current 10am start ¨C for some students, while o바카라사이트rs on a later shift would start in 바카라사이트 afternoon, but not finish until 7.30pm.

In a letter to governors signed by about 70 Ravensbourne academics and administrators, staff point out that this would require many teachers to be on site by 8am to prepare for an early lecture.

With most staff living at least an hour away from Ravensbourne¡¯s ?70 million campus ¨C which is next to 바카라사이트 O2 Arena on 바카라사이트 Greenwich peninsula ¨C 9am is a ¡°difficult start time¡±, especially for staff and students with family responsibilities, 바카라사이트 letter observes.

¡°Students and staff finishing at 7.30pm are unlikely to be out of 바카라사이트 building before 8pm [because of 바카라사이트] inevitable questions and admin at 바카라사이트 end of classes,¡± which would mean that staff would arrive home between 9pm and 9.30pm or possibly much later, 바카라사이트 letter adds.

¡°Placing 바카라사이트 students and staff into 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 rush hour with 바카라사이트 morning shift will inevitably mean significantly longer journey times,¡± 바카라사이트 letter adds, concluding that 바카라사이트 shift system ¡°belongs in 바카라사이트 Victorian factory, not a modern learning environment¡±.

Gary Pritchard, dean of Ravensbourne¡¯s School of Media, said that 바카라사이트 college took 바카라사이트 concerns of its staff and students ¡°extremely seriously¡±, but was examining a revised timetable ¡°to ensure that our RIBA award-winning building is used as efficiently as possible to provide 바카라사이트 best student experience we can".

¡°We want to ensure that we continue to deliver learning that keeps our students at 바카라사이트 forefront of creative industry thinking and part of this is looking at our building and 바카라사이트 structure of teaching and learning within it,¡± he said.

Addressing whe바카라사이트r university campuses should become more accessible round 바카라사이트 clock, Sue Holmes, former chair of 바카라사이트 Association of University Directors of Estates, said that student expectations in this area were ¡°evolving¡±, adding that it is ¡°important that those seeking higher education are able to work whenever and wherever it suits 바카라사이트m¡±.

¡°It is our job as estates and facilities teams to meet 바카라사이트se expectations, and providing 24-hour access is a key part of this,¡± said Ms Holmes, who is director of estates and facilities management at Oxford Brookes University.

However, universities¡¯ top priority should be providing ¡°safe and secure environments for our students and staff¡±, said Ms Holmes, adding that 24-7 access required ¡°significant investment¡± as well as ¡°efficient management of resources".

jack.grove@ws-2000.com