Complaint culture grows on campus
Article Abstract:
Universities in the UK have received over 20,000 exam appeals and complaints in the past three years - 6,796 in 2003, 8,682 in 2004 and 4,658 as of July 2005 - as the number of students asserting their rights as consumers has grown. While student leaders and government officials have welcomed the findings as an indicator that fee-paying students were prepared to stand up for their rights, lecturers' union Natfhe warned that the commodification of higher education was resulting in a complaints culture that put extra pressure on lecturers faced with often spurious allegations while diverting time and resources away from research and teaching.
Publication Name: Times Higher Education Supplement
Subject: Education
ISSN: 0049-3929
Year: 2005
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Imperial under fire on equality
Article Abstract:
The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is investigating Imperial College London amid claims of widespread discrimination. The EOC has confirmed that it has called a meeting with Sir Richard Sykes, rector of Imperial, as a result of a number of complaints from current and former staff. A consultants report into issues of equality at Imperial in May 2003 found that 32.9% of female academics reported workplace discrimination, while 30.6% believed that undermining behaviour or bullying by managers was a barrier to their career progression. Of Imperial's professors, only 7.5% are female, vs a national average of 12%.
Publication Name: Times Higher Education Supplement
Subject: Education
ISSN: 0049-3929
Year: 2003
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Leaked papers to lead to FOI ruling
Article Abstract:
De Montfort University has been ordered by the government freedom of information watchdog to disclose some highly sensitive internal documents about academic standards. It was ruled that the university failed to comply with obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 when it withheld several documents from The Times Higher.
Publication Name: Times Higher Education Supplement
Subject: Education
ISSN: 0049-3929
Year: 2006
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