Workload management for academics within higher education settings has been and continues to be heavily contested and cited by some as a challenge that has proved impossible to satisfactorily decipher. This is especially problematic within postgraduate contexts where academics have multilayered roles and responsibilities that include teaching,…

This paper begins by establishing the A+ Inquiry model as a theoretical lens for assessing needs related to program assessment workload by demonstrating its alignment with elements of five published frameworks associated with higher education assessment. Then, it uses the model as a frame of reference to explore faculty needs related to program…

Using the rights contained in the Freedom of Information Act, we collected data on the teaching undertaken by staff at 52 UK universities. In contrast to workload modelling, our data reveals the extent of the variation in contact hours by institution, subject, and seniority. We provide for the first time an accurate measure of the teaching…

This paper presents an improved Distributed Genetic Algorithm (DGA) that surpasses the classic genetic algorithm (GA) in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness when it comes to optimizing faculty scheduling systems. The proposed Differential Evolution Genetic Algorithm (DGA) combines DE with chaotic mapping and asynchronous communication to…

The promotion of blended learning has not only enhanced instructional quality but also increased the workload, pressure, and professional challenges faced by university teachers. This study aims to identify patterns of work-related behavior and experience pertaining to successful blended instruction. From the perspective of conservation of…

The nature of academic appointments in Australia has changed. Given the recent emergence and growth of teaching focused academics roles across countries and contexts, in this conceptual paper we begin by parsing the language and role descriptions used for these academic appointments. Then, we consider what we know about teaching focused academics…

This article focuses on academic temporalities to consider the rhythms, repetitions and discontinuities of academic work. Using a photo-serial methodology which generated an archive of images taken at the same time of day for a fortnight, we take up material and affective theories to rethink academic work as assemblages or micro-worlds that emerge…

This paper focuses on our experiences as higher education workers and the changing work culture that has resulted in the move to online digital labour. The shift to online and remote teaching has had disastrous impacts on academics' ability to both pursue research, and maintain a work-life balance. Examined in this paper is an understanding of how…

Purpose: This study was conducted to fill gaps in the literature based on institution type, career level, and gender identity. Design/methodology/approach: Faculty often struggle with achieving work-life balance. This struggle is exacerbated for faculty parents. Most academic parent research has been conducted on early-career women and at…

Against the backdrop of teaching being downplayed in higher education, this study unravels how the university faculty members' implementation of teaching excellence is influenced by the interplay of objective structural conditionings and subjective internal deliberations, drawing upon Margaret Archer's social realist framework and her distinction…

Doctoral education and supervision have changed in recent decades. The increasing prevalence of co-supervision has been a notable aspect of this, but change also includes stricter accountability and quality assurance measures, such as the quantification of workload allocations in supervision as well as of academic work more broadly. This paper…

This paper reports on research exploring the academic workload and performance practices of Australian universities. This research has identified a suite of activities associated with teaching, research and service, each with an associated time value (allocation). This led to the development of the academic workload estimation tool (AWET). In…

Women make up the majority of degree earners and a majority of those teaching at higher education institutions. Yet, women are not advancing to the highest ranks. How female faculty receive credit for the work that they do make account for the discrepancy in women advancing to the highest ranks. This single institution convergent mixed methods…

Higher Education frameworks have a strong focus on increasing students' satisfaction. This vision increases expectations on academic performance that often derive from stringent output measures for staff. The combination of internal and external demands for workers, such as those derived from their interaction with society, could create inadequate…

The rapid integration of AI in education has transformed instructional methodologies and administrative tasks. However, higher education teachers face challenges in creating quality assignments amidst increasing administrative burdens. This study investigates the potential of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in streamlining assignment creation. By…