Dear John and colleagues,

I have had quite a lot of reponse this morning, most of it from
colleagues who, understandably, do not want their experiences/views
shared. I am very grateful. I would just mention that we didn't undergo
any process whereby we could submit our arguments/evidence to prove our
worth; we were simply given a grade and the option to appeal. As yet, I
am not aware of any successful appeal in our university and we are now
12 months down the line. A professional association, even if it's not
acting as a union, would surely have more clout than a few individuals
making a nuisance of themselves. It was suggested to me last year that I
couldn't join NATFHE as I'm only support staff (chickens and eggs)so I
had to go with Unison. I've left them.

Regards, Alison

-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Hilsdon
Sent: 15 May 2006 12:07
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: posts, parity, contracts and salaries


Dear All

Alison (see below this message) raises important issues that I know have
affected and continue to affect others in this field. Anne responded
that: "Other areas which have capitalised on their hybrid nature have
also formed strong professional association so that salaries can be
compared across places of work rather than within the same one. A
professional association can also lobby more widely and more
effectively."

It may be that LDHEN can make at least some contribution to this
function in future if enough of the subscribers would join a
professional association based on our common interests. This is under
discussion by our steering group and we will be offering the option to
LDHEN subscribers join an association in the autumn. We do not, however,
envisage this group acting as a trade union or as an alternative to such
bodies. Do any subscribers to this list who are members of AUT, NATFHE
or other unions have comments about the issues Alison raised? Is anyone
able to make suggestions or advise colleagues in this position whom they
might approach to discuss their situation? 

We at Plymouth have just undergone the HERA process and await its
results with interest as our LD team currently have varying types of
contract.

John

John Hilsdon
Co-ordinator, Learning Development 
University of Plymouth 
Drake Circus 
Plymouth 
PL4 8AA 

01752 232276 

[log in to unmask]

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/learn


-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alison Green
Sent: 15 May 2006 09:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Google, scholars etc

Hello,

I hate to bring this conversation down to the level of money but can
anyone advise on how I can financially capitalise on my hybrid nature? I
have all the ususal higher degrees, teaching quals and produce resources
for academics to use on a regular basis....some of you have used them
yourselves outside of my institution. Further, I've just been awarded a
learning & teaching fellowship which appears to reflect my excellent
work blah blah blah. However, I simply cannot afford to keep this going
much longer as a single parent on a support staff salary. I tried for
regrading of job last year using a colleague with a similar job
description for equity. This resulted in the colleague having their job
down-graded! Sorry to moan on a Monday morning but if any of these
people researching into this disparity want to use me, feel free.

Alison

-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ann Barlow
Sent: 12 May 2006 10:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Google, scholars etc


Hi everybody,

I was interested to read in your e-mail, David, about the questions 
raised in the area of HR professionalism. 

I have a background in Information Management and many of the 
same questions arise in that profession, particularly as the very fast 
growth of electronic information has meant that the profession has 
emerged quite recently. 

Members of the IM profession have in some instances found it 
helpful to think of themselves as hybrids in the sense of having 
knowledge of several different aspects of organisational 
management - I guess that HR professionals also need that kind of 
hybrid knowledge. Also IM professionals often have a role as 
boundary spanners, being able to communicate across several 
different organisational areas and maintaining knowledge flows 
withing teams drawn from different fields.

It may be that our strength as Learning Developers is that we can 
adopt that boundary spanning role - not only between students and 
academics but also between academics in different disciplines. 
Perhaps, rather than wishing for idenification as academics we need 
to find ways of capitalising on our hybrid nature. I know that we're 
all based in different kinds of sections in our universities. I wonder 
whether any of us feel that we can do that in our particular 
situations.

All the best,

Ann
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Ann Barlow MA MSc PgCE,
Acting Director,
Centre for Continuing Education,
Humanities Devas Street Building,
The University of Manchester,
Oxford Road,
Manchester
M13 9PL
0161 275 3274
[log in to unmask]

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