Worried about being forced out….

[Ellabella222]

I teach on a professional degree course…think health course etc. I got a SL job due to my professional experience but I’d never get in now. My uni only wants PhD qualified staff and our department has massively expanded its research focus.

I am one of a handful of staff who are older, experienced professionals. I feel there is a focus on dynamic researchers now. Many of my colleagues are retiring or taking severance. I can’t afford to leave but I’m increasingly feeling that they want me gone. I am old and expensive.

My line manager is horrible and I don’t think he rates me. I was on a big learning curve when I first entered academia and made mistakes but I’m a grafter and have taught well for the past few years. I just don’t think he likes me much.

I know I can’t just he sacked but my job just isn’t good anymore. I just feel undervalued.

Any advice?

Do you enjoy any part of your job?

Thanks for reply. Yes, I enjoy teaching and the students. I really hate the performance culture though. Constantly looking at metrics and asking students for evaluation. They just want to get on with the course!

I like some of my colleagues. Only some.

I have a colleague in a similar position. An excellent lecturer without a PhD. Some advice might to be to make others aware of your abilities, like this:

I’ve observed that her strategy (if she has one) has been to raise her own profile by being a highly effective chair of relevant committees such as curriculum development and exam boards. She is also a guest lecturer on sister courses.

Altogether this means that she has many strings to her bow and that people higher up in the department and faculty are aware of her abilities so she is less reliant on the support of a single, and like in your case, not necessarily helpful manager.

Lastly, can you get any decent publications out? Anything on pedagogy, given your experience?

Thanks that’s really helpful. Given me some ideas. I might look intomto doing some work within the faculty. Publications might be an idea too.

That’s an awful position to be in, Ellebella222. In your field, you have much to offer HE as health is such a concern. Your line manager should really be supporting you and ensuring that you feel valued. With your expertise and experience in health, I would imagine that you could contribute very well to university L&T conferences and agendas. I’d be happy to brainstorm some ideas with you if you liked.

Hi ElleBella222, some unis provide PhD funding (fees) and time for staff who are interested. This is a LOT of work on top of a FT job but might be worth considering. If you are interested I strongly recommend studying PT at your local RG rather than being supervised internally. A definite yes to taking on admin jobs - as senior as you can. These may lead to promotion in new unis. Also you don't have to have a PhD to publish and do research. Can you join research teams or publish yourself? About either teaching or drawing on your previous experience. Good luck