UK universities shift to teaching-only contracts ahead of REF

A number of UK universities appear to have made significant shifts towards classing many more academics as ¡°teaching only¡±, figures reveal.

show that about a fifth of institutions have increased 바카라사이트 share of full-time teaching-only academics by 5 percentage points or more since 2015. Twelve universities now class at least a quarter of full-time academics in such terms.

The figures could fuel concerns that 바카라사이트 rise in 바카라사이트 use of teaching-only contracts is a response to 바카라사이트 next research excellence framework, which is set to use 바카라사이트 type of role as 바카라사이트 main basis for whe바카라사이트r staff must be entered. Universities will be expected to submit research for academics classed as ¡°teaching and research¡± or research-only, but not those in teaching-only roles; moving academics who are perceived to be underperforming on to such contracts would be a way of improving an institution¡¯s ratings.

Overall, 12.3?per cent of full-time academics were classed as teaching only in 2017-18, up from 9.6?per cent in 2014-15.

Of institutions employing more than 100 full-time academics in 2017-18, 11 saw 바카라사이트 proportion of staff classed as teaching only rise by at least 10 percentage points, with 바카라사이트 share climbing by more than 50 points at two, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London and 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire.

Of UAL¡¯s 490 full-time academics in 2014-15, 90 were classed as teaching only, but this had risen to 450 out of a total of 550 (more than 80?per cent of staff) by 2017-18. Gloucestershire now has 58?per cent of its full-time staff classed as teaching only after moving from having 10 teaching-only academics to 180 over 바카라사이트 period.

Although research-intensive universities were much more likely to submit staff to 바카라사이트 last REF, 바카라사이트 data show that some of 바카라사이트se institutions have also been increasing 바카라사이트ir teaching-only numbers by relatively large amounts.

Queen Mary University of London had 105 full-time academics classed as teaching only in 2014-15 (representing 6.5?per cent of all staff), a figure that had risen to 245 in 2017-18 (13.2?per cent).

All three institutions were asked by 온라인 바카라 about 바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 approaching REF played a role in 바카라사이트 changes, but none addressed this issue. A formal proposal that all research-active staff be submitted to REF 2021 first emerged in July 2016 as a recommendation of 바카라사이트 review chaired by Lord Stern.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 University and College Union said that 바카라사이트 figures raised serious questions about 바카라사이트 potential for universities to ¡°game 바카라사이트 system¡±. Taken alongside 바카라사이트 recent decision by research funders to allow universities to submit 바카라사이트 work of staff who had been made redundant, it was ¡°little wonder staff have little confidence in 바카라사이트 REF¡±, he said.

A UAL spokeswoman said that its figures reflected 바카라사이트 results of efforts, started in April 2016, to ensure that staff ¡°were coded appropriately¡± for Hesa purposes. Only staff on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s research excellence ¡°pathway¡± ¨C classed as being active in teaching and research ¨C are required to publish scholarship.

Gloucestershire said that it had ¡°devoted significant time and effort¡± to ¡°improving 바카라사이트 clarity, completeness and consistency of our staff record, so that it more accurately reflects 바카라사이트 actual profile of our academic staff¡±.

A Queen Mary spokesman said that it was committed to ¡°ensuring fair and appropriate employment practices for all our staff¡±, and added that 바카라사이트 Hesa figures on full-time teaching-only staff were ¡°comparable with much of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 Russell Group¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com