This issue excerpted from http://www.educationguardian.co.uk/
There is average of 16.8 students to every member of teaching staff across higher education institutions in the UK, today's statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) for 2005 to 2006 reveal.
But the figure, according to the University and College Union (UCU), is higher than the average student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5 at universities in the 30 member states of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The union said the UK figures meant that that 65% of universities have a student-to-lecturer ratio worse than the average OECD country, which includes members from Europe as well as Japan and the United States.
When Scottish institutions were looked at in isolation, the situation was slightly better, with 47% of universities and colleges having a worse ratio than the OECD average, according to the UCU analysis.
The UCU's joint general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "It is unacceptable that the UK, the fourth largest economy in the world, is falling behind competitors when it comes to the number of students to each member of teaching staff in our universities."
Despite the increase in the UK student-to-teacher ratio in the last 12 months, which between 2004 and 2005 was one staff member to every 16.6 students, lecturers continue to perform to a very high standard, she said.
But he warned: "We cannot keep cramming more students in our universities and expect the staff to put in even more unpaid overtime."
University employers and the organisation which represents vice-chancellors both disputed the analysis of the figures carried out by the union and its conclusions.
In a joint statement, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association and Universities UK said that there are "significant" differences in the "definitions and methodologies" used to define the international average student-to-lecturer ratios.
They said: "The OECD points out that, unlike other countries, the UK figures relating to the ratio of students to contact staff refers to public institutions only.
"Private tertiary institutions are included in other countries and it is unclear whether these countries include former polytechnics and higher education colleges."
They said that other recent figures from Hesa revealed that while the number of students in higher education increased by 2.1% between 2004 to 2005 and 2005 to 2006, there was a 2.6% rise in academic staff during the same period.
1 comment:
The point here is how the teaching processes are supposed to be. Some parties will enjoy to a small class for teaching when the others are not. To see a large class as a burden, lecturers particularly must know how to deliver their subject.
Subject such as thinking, information or history may not need a small group. It can be delivered in a large classes. When a subject which most rely on tecnique or fast practice, a small class is required.
After all, even there are polemics in classes size, we yet have solution to have post such as tutor or young lecturer to reduce the burden.
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