In October 2018, the Executive Board launched the first sustainable employability monitor, a survey for UM staff that focuses on themes such as social safety, atmosphere and pleasure at work, inclusivity, and workload. In May 2022, it was distributed for the second time, with a lot less response: not even 20 per cent of all staff members (the first one reached 63 per cent) completed the survey. The results of the second monitor were discussed in the University Council last Wednesday.
“What conclusions are you drawing?” members asked their ‘guest’ Harald Merckelbach, dean of the Faculty of Psychology and Neurosciences and chairperson of the Taskforce Sustainable Employability, which came up with a plan of action to reduce the workload some time ago. “We had expected a dramatic impact due to Covid, with more burn-out symptoms, work pressure, but the picture stays the same as it was in 2018. Furthermore, overall we see that people rate UM quite good as an organisation. This is an indication that the majority at this institute is satisfied, that they have confidence. I stress this because you cannot say that only the usual suspects – those who always complain – completed the monitor,” says Merckelbach. Lastly, he calls the considerable number of respondents who reported undesirable behaviour “worrying, this requires action”.
And what does he think about the burn-out figures? According to the report, 16.1 per cent of administrative and support staff (obp) and 34.5 per cent of the academic staff (wp) are at risk. “Worrying”, but action is being taken, he said, such as shortening the academic year. “It is a difficult and large project, but a huge step in the right direction.”
“But what will happen in the short term?” Jenny Schell, academic staff council member, wants to know. Merckelbach acknowledges her point that especially assistant professors are experiencing a great deal of pressure. The starter grants that UM – with extra money from the government – is now able to divide among this group annually, should relieve the workload. But things are not moving fast with those grants. The universities are waiting on advice from a national committee, rector Pamela Habibović (who is a member of the committee) explains. That committee has not reached a decision yet. The deadline was 31 March and now it will be 30 June.
Compared to the first monitor from 2018, the results “have not changed much in four years”, Maarten van Wesel, council member on behalf of obp concludes. The workload has remained high. Nevertheless, Merckelbach thinks that “many things” have been done, referring to the measures taken by the Taskforce. “Let us repeat the monitor in a couple of years’ time, then we will hopefully see the impact.”
Mark Govers (wp member) hears Merckelbach talk about solutions, such as a shorter academic year, adapting the standard hours (for example, how many hours does a lecturer get to correct a thesis) as well as less time-consuming forms of Problem-Based Learning. All that is great, he says, but “when will we start to notice any of that?” Before carnival, in the University Council’s Operational Management committee, where the monitor was also discussed, Govers said: “I have been asking for ten years now to do something about the workload, but I can’t see any progress as long as I see colleagues suffer.”
Govers wants more attention to be paid to time-consuming ‘administrative tasks’. He expresses his disbelief about the way in which figures have to be entered in Excel spreadsheets. “Typing takes hours and the chances of making a mistake is huge. It is monnikenwerk. How is it possible that in the 21st century we haven’t automated a simple task like this?” Many recognise the situation, but administration is required for all kinds of audits, they said. Govers: “But does it have to be done this way?”
Lastly, the students in the council: how will the students be affected by shortening the academic year, Annefleur Bruin wants to know. Rector Habibović puts her mind at rest: “We won’t do anything without you, the students. But we are still in the initial phase, we first want a good framework that gives a clear image of the consequences for students, administrative and support staff, and academic staff.” A working group has worked out various scenarios; one is chosen as a starting point. The workload will certainly be included, she says. Govers hopes that (educational) support staff will be involved in the process at an early stage. “To prevent this group from being confronted with it after the design has been completed.”