The measure is possible due to the ‘sector plans’: a structural government investment of 200 million per year, intended for extra jobs and more permanent positions at universities. With the amount that FASoS is receiving, the faculty wants to recruit about ten new assistant professors during this and next year. “Those people will teach, but the total number of education hours at the faculty will remain the same,” Neuhold explains. “That means others can spend less time teaching.”
Giving everyone the same ‘reduction’ of teaching hours, seemed like the most practical as well as desirable option for the faculty board. “After all, the sector plans are also intended for a reduction of the workload. We want everyone to get a share in it.” An alternative that was on the table, consisted of creating more options for ‘teaching sabbaticals’. “That sounds useful, but it actually leads to a greater workload for other staff,” says Neuhold. “Other lecturers need to take over teaching tasks and it leads to more administrative work. The present solution is relatively easy to introduce and yields something for everyone.”
In the faculty council, the measure was – literally – received with cheering by the academic staff members. “A very welcome development,” “a gift”, and “I can’t imagine anybody being against this”, they said. “This may not sound very interesting to you, but you will be getting happier lecturers standing before you,” they assured the student members present.
The reduction will already apply to teaching hours of the next academic year, which will be allocated from next month. “So, lecturers cannot skip teaching tasks this academic year yet,” Neuhold assures. Also, for now no formal changes will be made to the present contracts. “Because this would provide an additional workload for HR, and that is exactly what we want to prevent.”