Don't underestimate managers' ability to treat you as an idiot

Article Abstract:

An analysis of the sort of staff development courses that universities run for their lecturers and how these courses effectively treat the lecturers as idiots. It is argued that the days when staff development courses actually meant something and provided lecturers with an opportunity to catch up with developments in their field are gone, replaced by courses that offer attendees the chance to learn the importance of good nutrition. More worrying, it is argued, is the fact that most universities police attendance at these courses, making sure that lecturers learn what university policy is and conform to it.

United Kingdom, Personnel administration, Training, Lecturers, Employee development

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When trusts slips

Article Abstract:

British Higher Education Minister Baroness Blackstone plans to introduce a formal complaints procedure for university students. She urges staff to see students and their parents as customers. Some observers suggest the new complaints systems will make teachers less willing to try innovative ways of teaching preferring to keep to the curriculum. Teachers will need to keep records of all conversations when they offer students advice. Some students may see the complaints procedures as a way of complaining about poor marks which will make them feel they are not responsible for their own work.

Complaints (Administrative procedure)

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A wake-up call for all

Article Abstract:

Many academics working in British universities have found it increasingly difficult to meet the growing demands on their time from bureaucracy. An internal market in higher education has not improved the quality of the service. Academics have often found their teaching has changed in order to comply with demands for standardisation. Their creativity is no longer encouraged. Many people working in the universities have admitted to feeling unhappy.

Column, College teachers, College faculty, Bureaucracy

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