LexisNexis(TM) Academic - Document:

Copyright 2002 Newspaper Publishing PLC
The Independent (London)
August 29, 2002, Thursday

SECTION: COMMENT; Pg. 4

LENGTH: 563 words

HEADLINE: HIGHER EDUCATION: WHAT THE ACADEMICS SAY;
WHY ARE ACADEMICS SO UNDERPAID AND UNDERVALUED IN BRITAIN? AND HOW CAN THEY GAIN THE RESPECT THAT THEY FEEL THEY DESERVE? MICHAEL DUNNING REPORTS

BYLINE: Michael Dunning

BODY:
Professor Lewis Elton, education,
University College London
As a higher proportion of the population goes to university, the domestication of academics has started to appear. The public perception of academia is tied to the perception of the quality of teaching. I think it has remained unchanged during my time in academia and the quality has been mixed and often inadequate. When I tell people that my job is to improve university teaching, they say, "And about time, too." But when I talk to academics, I get the response: "What on earth for?" There is a discrepancy - and I fear I am on the side of the public.

Chris Pole,
sociology lecturer,
Leicester University
People often think that academics live in ivory towers. The public sees that academics in medical schools or in engineering have a direct relevance, but with philosophy or fine art, they ask: "What are they for?" Many base their idea of academics on media representations, which are often of bumbling boffins. Governments, too, often have a negative view of academics - just look at the Thatcher years and her mistrust of anything social and, therefore, of social scientists.

Professor Gordon Campbell, English, Leicester University
Ancient stereotypes of academics are still in place. People don't understand what academics do. My neighbours think I'm a teacher.

Academic pay has sunk and there is no serious use of academics in political life, unlike in other European countries. The present government has continued the Tories' stance by underinvesting in and undervaluing academics. They treat us with contempt and indifference. New Labour has carried on the audit culture put in place by the previous administration, which sees universities as places that churn people out for the economy. They don't see universities as places where people learn citizenship.

In the media, academics either play the boffin role, as experts talking about a given issue, or they appear on late-night arts slots on Channel 4, which are quite marginal. This is partly the fault of academics because, unlike Simon Schama, they can't communicate well with the public.

Professor Susan Bassnett, comparative literary theory, Warwick University
The English aren't profoundly intellectual, so academics aren't admired and given much status. Poor pay reflects that. In the Eighties there were lots of novels about academics, which contained a great deal of humour, but that interest has waned, and there is little media representation now. By contrast, in France academics comment on all sorts of issues.

Dr John Medaliavich, physics, Leicester University
Media representations of science are poor. Science is often treated in terms of deficiency: "They can't do this" or "they can't do that". "We've been waiting for a cure for Aids for 20 years." This comes from a failure to understand what science is at a fundamental level. It stems from an inability to distinguish between science and technology. Technology is about providing things for need, whereas science is about enquiry.

Science and engineering have never really been held in high esteem and the Government reflects this. Inevitably, we are paid less. But that doesn't stop scientists thinking of themselves as some kind of elite. Ultimately, scientists' ideas are the engine of civilisation and progress.

MD

LOAD-DATE: August 29, 2002