Workload and redundancies exercise brains

THES reporters turn the spotlight on the working groups set up so far by Sir Ron Dearing as part of his inquiry into the future of higher education. The Dearing inquiry working group on the use of staff and cost-effectiveness will have to pick its way through a political minefield.

The team, chaired by Sir Ron Dearing, comprises nine people drawn from academe, industry, politics and the student movement. They are: David Chiddick, professor and director of estates at De Montfort University; Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde; Sir Geoffrey Holland, vice chancellor of Exeter University; David Holmes, registrar of Birmingham University; Diana Laurillard, pro vice chancellor (technology development) at the Open University; Hon Mrs Sara Morrison, director, General Electric Company; Robert Smith, vice chancellor and chief executive of Kingston University; Simon Wright, student union officer for academic affairs, University of Wales College Cardiff; Michael Yuille, director of finance at Aberdeen University.

Recent changes in the structure of higher education and in funding have propelled these issues to the top of the trade union agenda. The team will be aware of concern over workloads following last year's redundancies and of union claims that many members are working in a "climate of fear" over job cuts.

There is also the matter of short-term contracts, for which staff may sign clauses "waiving" their rights. The team has to grasp the thorny issue of recognition of teaching, research, achievement and the training and development of staff who claim they are hard pressed.

Cost-effectiveness is often seen as cuts. Many institutions claim that they have cut so much any further measures will lead to a fall in quality and standards.

However, the group will be looking at further cost-effective measures, involving the use of estate, equipment and libraries; the organisation of the academic year the role of information technology; the relative merits of different types of provider and forms of provision; institutional co-operation and collaboration; shorter or more intensive courses and patterns of student attendance.