The management of academic workloads: improving practice in the sector

Final report of HEFCE projec

The management of academic workloads: full report on findings

The pressures on UK higher education (from explicit competition and growth in student numbers, to severe regulatory demands) are greater than ever, and have resulted in a steady increase in measures taken by universities to actively manage their finances and overall quality. These pressures are also likely to have impacted on staff and, indeed, recent large surveys in the sector have indicated that almost half of respondents find their workloads unmanageable. Against this background it would seem logical that the emphasis on institutional interventions to improve finance and quality, should be matched by similar attention given to the allocation of workloads to staff, and a focus on how best to utilise people’s time - the single biggest resource available within universities. Thus the aim of this piece of research was to focus on the processes and practices surrounding the allocation of staff workloads within higher education. Ten diverse organisations were selected for study: six universities in the UK, two overseas universities and two non higher education (but knowledge-intensive) organisations. In each, a crosssection of staff was selected, and in-depth interviews carried out. A total of 59 such interviews were carried out across the ten organisations. By identifying typical practices, as well as interesting alternatives, views on the various strengths and weaknesses of each of their workload allocation approaches was collated; and associated factors requiring attention identified. Through an extensive process of analysis, approaches which promoted more equitable loads for individuals, and which might provide synergies for institutions were also investigated

Promoting positive gender outcomes in higher education through active workload management

The Higher Education Funding Council funded report 'Promoting Positive Gender Outcomes in HE Through Active Workload Management' includes HEI case study interviews, surveys and workload data analysis to investigate the disparity between the genders in their careers. For example in 2010 although women made up 43% of the academic workforce when looking at the Professorial role only 18.7% were women. The report, through the field work and data analysis, uncovers a range of quite subtle factors that appear to be working together to create this imbalance and includes recommendations for better practice in workload allocation

Hybrid concrete: improved processes and performance

This paper presents the results of a study of three very successful Hybrid concrete projects. Supply chain analyses are described and, in the event, the situations found are typified as networks. Problem areas are identified together with various illustrations of good practice, with a particular stress on the necessity for intensive and effective informal communications. The particular problems attendant on the design side of the process, rooted in role confusion and a lack of design fixity are highlighted. This links to the suggestion that as the knowledge of Hybrid systems becomes better understood and is more fully communicated through codification then many of these problems should evaporate. That is, Hybrid can move from being a disruptive technology and become a sustaining technology for the industry and its clients

Optimal learning spaces: design implications for primary schools

Review guide of the design evidence for primary school