Download
1 / 14
140 likes | 256 Views
Work-load Model in the School of Plant Biology Hans Lambers & Renu Sharma. Why did we (not) want a work-load model?. To “look after” staff who are inclined to take on too much ( e.g. , teaching), and therefore cannot develop in a manner that is in the best interest of themselves (and the School)
E N D
Work-load Model in the School of Plant BiologyHans Lambers&Renu Sharma
Why did we (not) want a work-load model? • To “look after” staff who are inclined to take on too much (e.g., teaching), and therefore cannot develop in a manner that is in the best interest of themselves (and the School) • It was not a matter of ensuring everyone works hard enough, because work ethics in the School are such that there is absolutely no reason for this
The context • 7.5 hours per day for 5 days per week • 48 weeks • 4 weeks annual leave for work-life balance • 1800 hours per year • Weightings as discussed in staff meetings, and reviewed from time to time • In fact, we need to have another close look at our weightings
What do we capture? • UG teaching (Student Contact & Teaching Admin) • Lectures • Practicals • Tutorials • Coordination • Marking • Postgraduate supervision • Research • Publications • Dependent on number of authors • Grant proposals • Dependent on size and role • (Components “not captured”) • Service within UWA e.g., • (Deputy) Head of School • Postgraduate coordinator • (Deputy) Program Leader in Institute of Agriculture • Chair of School’s Teaching & Learning Committee • Member of Faculty’s Teaching & Learning Committee
What do we not capture? • Memberships of editorial boards • This is valued, as made clear during PDR • Memberships of panels of funding agencies • These tend to be paid activities • Activities as reviewer • Valued, and part of any researcher’s duties • Hands-on research • Part of the research time that is “not captured” • Writing textbooks • Not in UWA publication allocation
Weighting of activities • Trialled for a year or two, and then reviewed • We’re all convinced we don’t have the weighting 100% right • We aim for transparency • We don’t want a bureaucratic nightmare, and add significantly to staff workloads • It’s the relative workloads that provide guidance for School Management • Protection of some staff that tend to become overloaded • Not important to make sure everyone works hard enough • The latter is not an issue in Plant Biology
Weightings as currently used • Teaching • Lectures • New Course: 12 hours • Major Rewrite: 4 hours • Existing: 2 hours • Repeat: 1.5 hours • Lecture Loading • 0.03 hours/student/lecture (Class <50) • 0.06 hours/student/lecture (Class>50) • Practicals • Demo: weight of 1 per hour lab presence • Labs responsible for: weight of 1 per 2/3 hour lab
Weightings as currently used • Tutorials • Tutorials: 2 hours per tutorial • Repeat: 1 hour per tutorial • Coordination and field tours • Unit Coordination: • Honours: 7.5 hours per student • 400 Coordinator: 7.5 hours per student • Field trip: 40 hours • Attendant field tour: 30 hours • Marking • 0.5 hours per student
Weightings as currently used • Postgraduate supervision • MSc or PhD Supervision: 50 hours per student • Honours Supervision: 100 hours per student • Fourth-year students: 75 hours per student • HD Lectures: 4 hours per lecture
Weightings as currently used • Research • Publications • 60 hours per WOU divided by number of authors • Submitted grant proposals • Grant application CI (>$100K/a): 100 hours when senior CI • Grant application CI (>$100K/a): 50 hours when co-CI • Grant application CI (<$100K/a): 40 hours when senior CI • Grant application CI (<$100K/a): 20 hours when co-CI
Weightings as currently used • Services within UWA • Head of School: 750 hours • Deputy Head of School: 50 hours • Postgraduate coordinator: 100 hours • Chair of School’s Teaching & Learning Committee: 25 hours • Member of Faculty’s Teaching & Learning Committee: 150 hours • Program Coordinator Institute of Agriculture: 180 hours • Deputy Program coordinator Institute of Agriculture: 45 hours • Exceptional additional duties: 150 hours • General allocation to all staff (service : 20 hours
Our Average Workload in 200683% (Hands-on research not captured!)
Further work in progress • Series of staff, student and research forums in the School to enhance efficiency in School budget and operations • Enhance quality of supervision including research supervision • Analysis of teaching to avoid overlap and have more meaningful larger units to streamline staff workload issues • Implement complete transparency in School operations to ensure Plant Biology is a productive and fun place • Support Work-life balance!
