Higher learning

Stephen King reports on innovation in tertiary education:

I heard about teaching-focused schools that highlight teaching excellence rather than research. I also heard about exceptional research institutions. I heard about business schools that require all faculty to have spent time (in years) practicing their trade in industry. I heard about institutions with explicit dual track approaches recognising exceptional researchers and exceptional teachers for their equally important contributions.

Stephen laments these innovations being lacking in Australia. I believe the same is true in New Zealand. Lack of reward for teaching was one of the reasons why I left academia. According to my student evaluations, I was an excellent teacher, but based on my publications I was an average researcher. Research was regarded much more highly than teaching for determining job security, promotions and esteem of colleagues. This was despite the fact that staff were supposed to spend equal amounts of time on research and teaching.

Perhaps I shouldn’t whinge and just seek out one of those institutions that Stephen mentioned that reward teaching. But I agree with him that it’s disappointing that many universities have such a narrow focus. Great teaching takes just as much talent and energy as great research.