Work-load Model in the Work-load Model in the School of Plant BiologySchool of Plant Biology

Hans LambersHans Lambers

&&

Renu SharmaRenu Sharma

Why did we (not) want a work-load Why did we (not) want a work-load model?model?

To “look after” staff who are inclined to To “look after” staff who are inclined to take on too much (take on too much (e.g.e.g., teaching), and , teaching), and therefore cannot develop in a manner that therefore cannot develop in a manner that is in the best interest of themselves (and is in the best interest of themselves (and the School)the School)

It was It was notnot a matter of ensuring everyone a matter of ensuring everyone works hard enough, because work ethics works hard enough, because work ethics in the School are such that there is in the School are such that there is absolutely no reason for thisabsolutely no reason for this

The contextThe context

7.5 hours per day for 5 days per 7.5 hours per day for 5 days per weekweek

48 weeks48 weeks 4 weeks annual leave for work-life 4 weeks annual leave for work-life

balancebalance 1800 hours per year1800 hours per year Weightings as discussed in staff Weightings as discussed in staff

meetings, and reviewed from time meetings, and reviewed from time to timeto time

In fact, we need to have another In fact, we need to have another close look at our weightingsclose look at our weightings

What do we capture?What do we capture? UG teaching (Student Contact & Teaching Admin)UG teaching (Student Contact & Teaching Admin)

LecturesLectures PracticalsPracticals TutorialsTutorials CoordinationCoordination MarkingMarking

Postgraduate supervision Postgraduate supervision Research Research

– PublicationsPublications Dependent on number of authorsDependent on number of authors

– Grant proposalsGrant proposals Dependent on size and roleDependent on size and role

– (Components “not captured”)(Components “not captured”) Service within UWA Service within UWA e.g.e.g., ,

(Deputy) Head of School(Deputy) Head of School Postgraduate coordinatorPostgraduate coordinator (Deputy) Program Leader in Institute of Agriculture(Deputy) Program Leader in Institute of Agriculture Chair of School’s Teaching & Learning CommitteeChair of School’s Teaching & Learning Committee Member of Faculty’s Teaching & Learning CommitteeMember of Faculty’s Teaching & Learning Committee

What do we What do we notnot capture? capture?

Memberships of editorial boards Memberships of editorial boards This is valued, as made clear during PDRThis is valued, as made clear during PDR

Memberships of panels of funding Memberships of panels of funding agenciesagencies

These tend to be paid activities These tend to be paid activities

Activities as reviewerActivities as reviewer Valued, and part of any researcher’s dutiesValued, and part of any researcher’s duties

Hands-on researchHands-on research Part of the research time that is “not captured”Part of the research time that is “not captured”

Writing textbooksWriting textbooks Not in UWA publication allocationNot in UWA publication allocation

Weighting of activitiesWeighting of activities

Trialled for a year or two, and then reviewed Trialled for a year or two, and then reviewed We’re all convinced we don’t have the We’re all convinced we don’t have the

weighting 100% rightweighting 100% right We aim for transparencyWe aim for transparency We don’t want a bureaucratic nightmare, and We don’t want a bureaucratic nightmare, and

add significantly to staff workloadsadd significantly to staff workloads It’s the relative workloads that provide It’s the relative workloads that provide

guidance for School Managementguidance for School Management Protection of some staff that tend to become overloadedProtection of some staff that tend to become overloaded Not important to make sure everyone works hard enoughNot important to make sure everyone works hard enough The latter is not an issue in Plant BiologyThe latter is not an issue in Plant Biology

Weightings as currently usedWeightings as currently used

TeachingTeaching LecturesLectures

– New Course: 12 hoursNew Course: 12 hours– Major Rewrite: 4 hoursMajor Rewrite: 4 hours– Existing: 2 hoursExisting: 2 hours– Repeat: 1.5 hoursRepeat: 1.5 hours

Lecture LoadingLecture Loading– 0.03 hours/student/lecture (Class <50)0.03 hours/student/lecture (Class <50)– 0.06 hours/student/lecture (Class>50)0.06 hours/student/lecture (Class>50)

PracticalsPracticals– Demo: weight of 1 per hour lab presenceDemo: weight of 1 per hour lab presence– Labs responsible for: weight of 1 per 2/3 hour labLabs responsible for: weight of 1 per 2/3 hour lab

Weightings as currently usedWeightings as currently used

TutorialsTutorials– Tutorials: 2 hours per tutorialTutorials: 2 hours per tutorial– Repeat: 1 hour per tutorialRepeat: 1 hour per tutorial

Coordination and field toursCoordination and field tours– Unit Coordination: Unit Coordination:

Honours: 7.5 hours per studentHonours: 7.5 hours per student 400 Coordinator: 7.5 hours per student400 Coordinator: 7.5 hours per student Field trip: 40 hoursField trip: 40 hours

– Attendant field tour: 30 hoursAttendant field tour: 30 hours

MarkingMarking– 0.5 hours per student0.5 hours per student

Weightings as currently usedWeightings as currently used

Postgraduate supervisionPostgraduate supervision– MSc or PhD Supervision: 50 hours per studentMSc or PhD Supervision: 50 hours per student– Honours Supervision: 100 hours per studentHonours Supervision: 100 hours per student– Fourth-year students: 75 hours per studentFourth-year students: 75 hours per student– HD Lectures: 4 hours per lectureHD Lectures: 4 hours per lecture

Weightings as currently usedWeightings as currently used

ResearchResearch– PublicationsPublications

60 hours per WOU divided by number of authors60 hours per WOU divided by number of authors

– Submitted grant proposalsSubmitted 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 usedWeightings as currently used

Services within UWAServices within UWA– Head of School: 750 hoursHead of School: 750 hours– Deputy Head of School: 50 hoursDeputy Head of School: 50 hours– Postgraduate coordinator: 100 hoursPostgraduate coordinator: 100 hours– Chair of School’s Teaching & Learning Chair of School’s Teaching & Learning

Committee: 25 hoursCommittee: 25 hours– Member of Faculty’s Teaching & Learning Member of Faculty’s Teaching & Learning

Committee: 150 hoursCommittee: 150 hours– Program Coordinator Institute of Agriculture: 180 Program Coordinator Institute of Agriculture: 180

hourshours– Deputy Program coordinator Institute of Deputy Program coordinator Institute of

Agriculture: 45 hoursAgriculture: 45 hours– Exceptional additional duties: 150 hoursExceptional additional duties: 150 hours– General allocation to all staff (service : 20 hoursGeneral allocation to all staff (service : 20 hours

Our Average Workload in 2006Our Average Workload in 200683% 83%

(Hands-on research not captured!)(Hands-on research not captured!)

Plant Biology Percentage Workload 2006

0

10

20

30

Further work in progressFurther work in progress Series of staff, student and research Series of staff, student and research

forums in the School to enhance efficiency forums in the School to enhance efficiency in School budget and operationsin School budget and operations

Enhance quality of supervision including Enhance quality of supervision including research supervisionresearch supervision

Analysis of teaching to avoid overlap and Analysis of teaching to avoid overlap and have more meaningful larger units to have more meaningful larger units to streamline staff workload issuesstreamline staff workload issues

Implement complete transparency in Implement complete transparency in School operations to ensure Plant Biology is School operations to ensure Plant Biology is a productive and a productive and funfun place place

Support Work-life balance!Support Work-life balance!

Seek wisdom and Seek wisdom and transparencytransparency

Have fun while seekingHave fun while seeking