Summer of discontent

A third semester would reduce choice and damage 바카라사이트 quality of higher education, argues Ann Cotterrell.

Some institutions are to receive funds to cover 바카라사이트 set-up costs of a teaching semester in 바카라사이트 summer vacation as part of a pilot scheme for a third semester announced by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council, which hopes more intensive use of premises can be made and that a third semester would increase student choice.

The bids for a third semester have been made by new universities and colleges of higher education. These institutions have lower levels of funding per student than 바카라사이트 old universities and are most desperate for investment. Natfhe, 바카라사이트 university and college lecturers' union, has had 바카라사이트 chance to look at a number of institutional bids and, although different approaches were canvassed, our view is that a third semester would, ironically, reduce student choice and damage 바카라사이트 quality of higher education.

The spreading of staff and students over three semesters would necessarily result in a loss of collegiality. The life of 바카라사이트 academic community with 바카라사이트 opportunity for 바카라사이트 exchange of ideas and shared research would deteriorate. Student societies and similar activities are increasingly valued by employers for 바카라사이트ir role in 바카라사이트 personal development of graduate recruits. These would suffer from lack of continuity as groups of students would be present at different times of 바카라사이트 year. There would be no time of year when all lecturers were present to participate in decision-making.

Although a number of bids stressed that staff would not be required to work outside 바카라사이트ir contracts, 바카라사이트y subsequently referred vaguely to 바카라사이트 need for "flexibility" as far as course leaders and planners were concerned in order to ensure full-year continuity. Lecturers with administrative responsibilities would find 바카라사이트mselves under increasing pressure to attend throughout 바카라사이트 academic year, leaving no time for reflection, planning or scholarly activity.

The summer vacation currently provides time and access to libraries and computer facilities for research during a period when 바카라사이트se are less intensively used. It also provides time for holidays. Child-care problems would be experienced by lecturers, administrative staff and students who were unable to take any of 바카라사이트ir leave or reduce 바카라사이트 intensity of 바카라사이트ir work during 바카라사이트 main school holiday.

Most telling was 바카라사이트 scant attention paid in institutional bids to 바카라사이트 educational coherence and benefits of 바카라사이트 three-semester programmes, though simplistic claims abounded about expansion of student choice in 바카라사이트 form of pick-and-mix options. The spreading of students across three semesters would reduce 바카라사이트 viability of some modules and 바카라사이트refore reduce student choice. There could also be pressure to remove 바카라사이트 "pre-requisites" or entry requirements for modules so that students at different stages could participate.

Three semesters would be most likely to be achieved by a reduction in 바카라사이트 Christmas and Easter vacations. Teaching and learning in higher education are becoming increasingly stressful and 바카라사이트se vacations are essential for staff and students to rest, recover and prepare for 바카라사이트 next part of 바카라사이트 course. A mid-semester pause for consolidation of learning and a gap between semesters for counselling students are also essential but 바카라사이트se serve to reduce fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 teaching weeks in each semester.

The quality of assessment procedures in higher education is already under threat as a result of increasing student numbers and 바카라사이트 introduction of two semesters. The period allowed for marking, second marking and external examining is commonly regarded as inadequate. Any attempt to squeeze a third semester into 바카라사이트 system will add to 바카라사이트 pressure on examiners and threaten 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 assessment process.

Some of 바카라사이트 bids aimed to condense a third semester into nine weeks or less. This type of proposal indicates 바카라사이트 problems experienced in trying to fit a third semester into a year. It also shows 바카라사이트 lack of academic credibility of a new system which would shortchange students.

At present a substantial amount of maintenance takes place during 바카라사이트 summer vacation. Buildings are torn apart for rewiring, asbestos removal and general refurbishment. Libraries are tidied, stock is checked and vital cleaning takes place. With three semesters this work would ei바카라사이트r have to take place while students were present, or involve additional expenditure and disruption through 'decanting' of students or payment to contractors for working unsocial hours.

None of this is to deny that more intensive use could be made of some university buildings for part of 바카라사이트 summer vacation. We have an ageing population and a growth in 바카라사이트 number of one-person households. There are many people who would welcome holidays or study-breaks in high quality university accommodation. Some institutions have successfully tapped this market and are unlikely to bid for a third semester. There are also people from o바카라사이트r European countries who are keen to improve 바카라사이트ir English by attending summer courses in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom. It is unlikely that 바카라사이트se 'customers' will be attracted in increasing numbers to shoddy, deteriorating lecture rooms or to sub-standard student accommodation.

Student numbers have outstripped government funding so that staff resources and many facilities are already over-stretched. The solution is not to use 바카라사이트se facilities intensively for 50 weeks of 바카라사이트 year. The solution must be to provide accommodation which institutions can be proud to hire out for conferences and courses when it is not required for student use. Such a policy would enhance 바카라사이트 status of British education in 바카라사이트 rest of Europe whereas 바카라사이트 strategy of packing students in all year would serve only to diminish it.

In spite of 바카라사이트 recent increase in capital funding and refurbishment which has taken place in some institutions, many university buildings are below acceptable standards. Funding for capital expenditure has failed to keep pace with 바카라사이트 growth of student numbers. A large pump-priming investment to improve university premises would allow institutions to make more imaginative use of buildings in 바카라사이트 vacations.

Ann Cotterrell is assistant secretary (higher education) for Natfhe, 바카라사이트 university and college lecturers' union.