The Guardian 18 June, 2008
Deakin dumps days in dash for cash
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has notified a dispute with Deakin University over the university’s proposal to change the academic year to a three semester format.
Dr Colin Long, NTEU Branch President at Deakin University, said students and staff will be worse off under the proposal. "At a time when students are being asked to pay more for their education they will now get less for their dollar," said Dr Long.
"Staff have raised with the NTEU their concerns that the quality of teaching will be diminished at Deakin because the number of teaching weeks in the present semesters will be reduced from 13 to effectively as little as 11," said Dr Long. ‘The university management is aware that students are very concerned about the loss of Swotvac, the period when students prepare for examinations, yet appear to have little regard for this important time or students’ learning experience."
Dr Long also said that senior management had completely disregarded proper staff consultation processes and imposed on already overworked staff a teaching period over the Christmas holiday period.
"University senior management’s own reports had not demonstrated any demand for a three semester year and had failed to demonstrate any educational benefit.
"The only reasons that staff could glean from university material on the topic was that Deakin wanted to be perceived as more ‘flexible’ and hopefully raise more revenue."
Last year’s Victorian-wide survey of university staff illustrated that Deakin staff were already experiencing excessive workloads, with 92 percent of academic staff who responded indicating they were concerned about excessive workloads.
"It is inconceivable to us that senior management could ignore these results and spring on already overworked staff a greater workload", said Dr Long.
"Deakin academic staff will now be required to re-write their lectures or drop completely some lectures to fit into the reduced semester timetable."