UCU says teaching excellence needs to be properly rewarded

A full report from the Higher Education Academy (HEA) is expected later this year that will include the results of a study into higher education institutions' policies for recognising teaching and how the policies are being implemented.
 
Key findings from the survey include:

• over 90% of academic staff think that teaching should be important in promotions
• most academics feel that the status of teaching is low in comparison with research. They also say that research is important, and that it is by and large given appropriate status and suitable emphasis in appointments and promotions
• academics in more research-focused universities are less likely to be satisfied with the importance their institution attaches to teaching in promotion decisions
• there are differences in perceptions of the importance of teaching in promotions by type of appointment - the more junior the staff member the more likely they are to say that it is not important in promotions. Staff who are in senior posts are less likely to think that there is a sizeable difference between ideal and actual in the importance of teaching for promotion
• training and support are valued as ways of raising the status of teaching.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We support greater recognition and reward for good teaching however we fully understand the concerns that staff have that excellence in teaching is not always properly rewarded. Universities need to make a genuine and transparent effort to ensure that all aspects of academic performance are properly considered when it comes to the promotion of their staff.'

More on the HEA research can be found here