Balancing act

As the debate surrounding the targeting of more than 100 staff for severance/early retirement at Queen's University of Belfast continues to gather momentum, there are two issues that have considerable implications.

To accept that the worth of an academic can be assessed exclusively in relation to the production of certain research publications is to accept that a UK university's primary raison d'etre is to operate as a research institution. A lecturer's contract of employment normally specifies three areas of work: teaching, research and administration. To focus on one alone in deciding future employment prospects is to announce clearly the primary mission of the institution. Government and the taxpayers should be clear that this is the direction in which higher education is being led.

The second issue concerns balanced excellence. If it is accepted that each academic should strive for personal balanced excellence in relation to teaching, research and administration, then the principle of collegiality or departmental balance has to be surrendered.

Many departments endeavour to produce a profile of balanced excellence that accommodates the diversity of contributions brought by individuals characterised by very different skills. To promote balanced excellence at an individual level is a different aspiration entirely (akin to asking Michael Schumacher to hop out and change the tyres on his Ferrari).

John M. D. Kremer

Reader in psychology Queen's University Belfast