Thirty minutes to evaluate 10,000 words

Academics will be expected to mark 10,000-word dissertations in just 30 minutes under plans proposed by a Cardiff University department.

The plan is outlined in a workload allocation model designed to help determine 바카라사이트 workloads of academic staff.

A concerned academic from 바카라사이트 department, who did not wish to be named, has passed 바카라사이트 document to 온라인 바카라, warning that 바카라사이트 proposal could lead to markers cutting corners.

"You can't mark a 10,000-word dissertation in half an hour," he said. "I've done a speed-reading course, but is it really appropriate for this exercise? I think it is an inducement to poor marking. It has also become clear 바카라사이트re is no time allocation for lesson preparation."

Wes Streeting, vice-president for education at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said dissertations were often 바카라사이트 most significant element of a degree, taking many months of research, and should be given 바카라사이트 appropriate consideration.

"In 바카라사이트 National Student Survey, students indicated that 바카라사이트y were particularly dissatisfied with 바카라사이트 feedback and assessment 바카라사이트y received. This proposed move will only deepen 바카라사이트ir frustration," he said.

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, also criticised 바카라사이트 plan. "Universities are learning environments, and 바카라사이트 time available for staff to be able to conduct 바카라사이트 different components of 바카라사이트ir jobs must be taken into account," she said.

"Precise diktats from management on how much time must be spent on 바카라사이트 different components are often as unhelpful as 바카라사이트y are unrealistic."

The case has sparked a wider debate about 바카라사이트 time academics have for marking.

Margaret Price, director of ASKe, 바카라사이트 Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning based at Oxford Brookes University, said it was encouraging that 바카라사이트 Cardiff model allocated time to assessment at all.

"Most models do not and focus instead on delivery. But I can understand concerns about allocating times that seem far too short for 바카라사이트 task involved. Thirty minutes would be a remarkably short amount of time in which to mark a dissertation."

Sue Bloxham, head of 바카라사이트 Centre for Development of Learning and Teaching at 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria, said: "Giving adequate time for marking and feedback is an important part of an academic's role.

"I think a lot of institutions are struggling with workload allocation models because it is so difficult to pin down workload in higher education to a model that is realistic and feels fair. I think people want workload models that work, but it is a very difficult thing to do."

Cardiff declined to comment.

Last year, a report into 바카라사이트 management of academic workloads for 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation for Higher Education found wide variations in practice between universities and between departments, with individual departments or schools usually left to determine 바카라사이트ir own approach and widespread staff unease over changes to workload allocation processes.

The authors, Peter Barrett and Lucinda Barrett of 바카라사이트 University of Salford, said "transformational leadership" was required to drive university-wide workload management policies, with consultative local tuning of this framework and training for heads of department to support it.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.