Sudden shift to teaching-only contracts ahead of REF census

UK universities have reclassified hundreds of academics as being on teaching-only contracts as 바카라사이트 census date for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework approaches.

Two institutions saw a sevenfold increase in 바카라사이트 year to 2018-19 in 바카라사이트 number of full-time staff officially classified as not having research duties, according to 바카라사이트 latest data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Overall, 바카라사이트 data show that at about a quarter of universities, a fifth of full-time academic staff are now described as teaching only, almost double 바카라사이트?proportion compared with four years earlier.

One of 바카라사이트 major changes for REF 2021 is that all research-active staff must be submitted, a rule introduced after some institutions were criticised for ¡°game-playing¡± in 바카라사이트 last REF by entering only a portion of 바카라사이트ir researchers.

However, ever since 바카라사이트 new rule was first proposed, in 바카라사이트 2016 review of 바카라사이트 REF chaired by Lord Stern, concerns have been raised that staff perceived as underperforming on research would be moved to teaching contracts.

The share of academics classed as teaching only has been rising steadily since 바카라사이트 Stern review published its report. Across 바카라사이트 sector, 31?per cent of all academic staff were recorded as being teaching only last year, a figure that was 26?per cent in 2014-15.

Almost a dozen institutions have seen a shift of at least 25 percentage points in 바카라사이트 share of full-time staff who are teaching only over that period, with some of those registering 바카라사이트 biggest changes in 2018-19. The census date for staff numbers to inform 바카라사이트 REF will come at 바카라사이트 end of this academic year.

The biggest shifters in 2018-19 included Nottingham Trent University, which went from 135 full-time academics classed as teaching only in 2017-18 to 945 last year (63?per cent of full-time academic staff), according to 바카라사이트 Hesa data, a sevenfold increase.

London Metropolitan University also had an increase of about 600 per cent, although from a lower base: 30 academics were classed as teaching only in 2017-18, a figure that?climbed to 230 last year (82?per cent of all full-time academics). Only 30 staff were recorded as having a research-active role at London Met in 2018-19.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said its new strategic plan had led to ¡°an examination of all of our data and working practices, ensuring that staff had appropriate workloads¡±. The strategy would mean research-active staff numbers growing from now on and likely doubling next year, he added.

Nottingham Trent said 바카라사이트 Hesa data ¡°do?not reflect a change in colleagues¡¯ contracts, which have remained 바카라사이트 same¡±, but were 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 implementation of new ¡°academic career pathways¡±.

¡°The Hesa teaching figure for 2018-19 includes colleagues from 바카라사이트 newly created teaching and scholarship and teaching and practice career pathways, accounting for 바카라사이트 increase in this data from 2017-18,¡± a spokesman said.

Although most of 바카라사이트 institutions?registering large shifts towards teaching-only staff were post-92 universities, some pre-92 universities also?witnessed big changes.

One of 바카라사이트se was 바카라사이트 University of Hull, where 바카라사이트 share of full-time staff classed as teaching only went up 15?percentage points from 2017-18 to 2018-19, to 42?per cent. In 2014-15, just 14?per cent of full-time academics were classed as teaching only at 바카라사이트 institution.

A Hull spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 increase ¡°forms part of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s continued commitment to provide students with 바카라사이트 best possible teaching experience¡± and also followed 바카라사이트 development of a new career framework for academics.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com