Colleagues
As on previous occasions, I would like to respond on behalf of SEDA to the
HEFCE consultation on the Review of Research (Report 00/37, September 2000).
The response is due by the 8 December so there is not a lot of time left. Our
earlier responses are available on the SEDA website
(http://www.seda.demon.co.uk).
The full report is available on the HEFCE website and there are 38 questions
based on the 38 recommendations made in the report. Whilst I can reply with a
“we agree” to many of these, I would like to focus my response on
the issues we have addressed earlier which reflect our position as a
professional association for those involved in staff and educational
development, in its widest sense. In particular, this relates to the position
of pedagogical research and the relationship between research, scholarship and
teaching.
The particular questions which, it seems to me, are important include:
Recommendation 7: We recommend that there should be no more, but not
significantly fewer, than the present number of units of assessment (see
paragraphs 101-5).
Question 7a: Do you agree that there should be no more than the current number
of units of assessment?
Question 7b: Do you agree that there should not be significantly fewer than the
current number of units of assessment?
Recommendation 21: Scholarship is an activity which is distinct from research
and should be required of all academics who teach (see paragraphs 155-158 and
168-170).
Question 21a: Do you agree that scholarship is an activity that can be
distinguished from research?
Question 21b: Do you agree that scholarship should be required of all academics
who teach?
Recommendation 22: The HEFCE should make it clear that its funds for teaching
include an element intended to enable staff to engage in scholarship (see
paragraphs 155-158 and 168-170).
Question 22: Do you agree that funds for teaching are the right source of
support for scholarship?
I have my own views on these but will wait until I see what others have to say.
However, it is not clear where I can continue to make the point about wanting a
separate unit of assessment relating to research into learning and teaching in
higher education and/or the need for panels to have appropriate membership to
be able to judge this research if it is located in the subject UoA.
If you would like to contribute to the consultation, please email me you
comments by the end of October so that I can draft a response and share it with
those who are interested.
Many thanks, in anticipation, and my apologies to those for whom this message
is a nuisance!
Ranald Macdonald
Co-Chair, Staff and Educational Development Association
Associate Head: Academic Development
Learning and Teaching Institute
Sheffield Hallam University
Howard Street
Sheffield S1 1WB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 114 225 4750
Fax: +44 114 225 4755
Email: [log in to unmask]
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