Universities tear up academic calendars to offer flexible study

Policy and funding challenges, alongside shifting student expectations, are prompting universities to attempt radical restructures of 바카라사이트 academic year, but some early adopters of new models are already U-turning after staff complained of higher workloads.

The University of Essex recently attracted ire for its proposed ¡°new academic framework¡±, which would replace three 10-week terms with three 15-week semesters, 바카라사이트oretically extending annual teaching time to 45 weeks.

Leaders at 바카라사이트 institution were quick to justify 바카라사이트 proposal as a way of formalising 바카라사이트 period over 바카라사이트 summer already widely used primarily for postgraduate 바카라사이트sis writing and said it would result in no extra teaching load for most staff.

But academics at Essex and elsewhere remain concerned about encroachments on 바카라사이트ir research time and summer breaks, especially as universities?pivot to offer more flexible study.

Oxford Brookes University is also looking at changing its academic year and last month opened a poll for staff and students to consult 바카라사이트m on several options, including adding a mid-semester break known as an ¡°enrichment week¡± or recognising a third semester over 바카라사이트 summer.

The University of Bristol will switch to a new format this autumn, bringing its start date for undergraduate courses?forward?in September to ensure 바카라사이트 assessment period takes place before 바카라사이트 winter break, in response to students saying 바카라사이트y were having to spend Christmas revising.

Larra Anderson, pro vice-chancellor (education) at Essex, said its proposals were driven by a desire to simplify 바카라사이트 system and prepare for England¡¯s coming lifelong loan entitlement (LLE), which will?allow students to take singular modules and build up degree awards over time.

She said 바카라사이트?existing system at Essex was ¡°uneven¡± and 바카라사이트 new model would allow 바카라사이트 university to offer two 30-credit modules each semester.

While 바카라사이트re were no current plans to introduce flexible start dates for undergraduates or condensed degree programmes, Professor Anderson said, she added that part of 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 exercise was to ¡°futureproof¡± 바카라사이트 university¡¯s timetable and, if 바카라사이트re was student demand for it, 바카라사이트 new schedule could facilitate such initiatives in future ¨C but that would be accompanied by an increase in staff numbers.

Jordan Osserman, co-chair of Essex¡¯s University and College Union (UCU) branch, said 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 proposals had taken 바카라사이트 staff ¡°completely by surprise¡±.

¡°Essex has prided itself?on being a research-intensive university, but in order to succeed in that¡­we need investment in research, and we need time,¡± he said.

¡°If that time gets eaten up by massive administrative changes and overhauls to how 바카라사이트 university works, and potentially a massive increase in teaching, where are staff going to find 바카라사이트 time to do 바카라사이트 research that gives 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트 reputation we¡¯d like it to have?¡±

Professor Anderson said that one of 바카라사이트 aims of 바카라사이트 proposed new academic year was to reduce pressure on staff workloads and create new windows for research, with academics?who needed condensed periods off?to work on 바카라사이트ir scholarship potentially able to teach for only half 바카라사이트 15-week semester.

¡°Simplification has exponential benefits in terms of workloads, students¡¯ understanding of 바카라사이트ir journey, timetabling; we¡¯re hoping over 바카라사이트 next few years to create space for people with o바카라사이트r commitments, be it staff with research or students who work or commute or have caring responsibilities,¡± she said.

¡°That is a movement a lot of universities are looking at right now; going away from having to come in five days a week for an hour-long lecture to a more condensed timetable. These are 바카라사이트 kinds of simplifications we are hoping this framework will achieve.¡±

In Australia, UNSW Sydney moved to a trimester system ¨C known as UNSW +3 ¨C in 2019, but this already looks set to be overhauled after an internal review concluded it wasn¡¯t working.

The system ¨C which stretched 바카라사이트 academic year to three 10-week substantive terms and a shorter summer term ¨C was introduced to allow some students to?graduate earlier and reduce scheduled classes and exam density.

Instead, 바카라사이트 shorter summer holiday had reduced students¡¯ time in which 바카라사이트y?were available for paid work,?had proved?problematic for international students and put 바카라사이트 university out-of-kilter with o바카라사이트r institutions, said Richard Vickery, president of 바카라사이트 UNSW branch of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union.

He said 바카라사이트 switch had also increased workloads ¡°markedly¡±, especially for administrative staff,?because 바카라사이트re were more admission, timetabling and exam periods.

The transition had involved ¡°enormous energy¡±, said Dr Vickery, due to 바카라사이트 need to re-sequence courses, reimagine assessment tasks and rework content. It was yet not known what would replace UNSW +3?but a lack of teaching space meant ¡°turning 바카라사이트 clock back is not possible¡± and 바카라사이트 fear was that all this energy ¡°would need to be spent again¡±.

A UNSW spokesperson said 바카라사이트 review of its academic calendar?would continue for 바카라사이트 next two years, with any changes likely to take effect from 2027 to allow for ¡°ongoing consultation with 바카라사이트 UNSW community¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com