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To: UC Senior Executive
UC Staff Concerns about the Block Model
A ‘Block Model’ is a form of teaching where units are completed intensively over a 4-to-6-week period, rather than over a traditional Semester. The University of Canberra (UC) has recently embarked on a feasibility study to explore its adoption across undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It examined the experience of Victoria University and Southern Cross University, which operate versions of a Block Model.
NTEU consultation with staff at those universities found that the introduction of a Block Model was accompanied by unreasonable and unsustainable workloads and, in the case of VU, mass job cuts.
UC Staff discuss their concerns - watch the video.
UC has recently been through an extensive, exhausting period of change, including the loss of hundreds of valued colleagues. The University has also endured governance concerns, financial crises, and leadership instability with five Vice-Chancellors in a 14-month period. Now is not the time to embark on further disruptive change, especially those that would require a substantial investment of resources for uncertain outcomes.
We, the undersigned UC staff, express our concern about the potential for the introduction of a Block Model at UC.
NTEU consultation with staff at those universities found that the introduction of a Block Model was accompanied by unreasonable and unsustainable workloads and, in the case of VU, mass job cuts.
UC Staff discuss their concerns - watch the video.
UC has recently been through an extensive, exhausting period of change, including the loss of hundreds of valued colleagues. The University has also endured governance concerns, financial crises, and leadership instability with five Vice-Chancellors in a 14-month period. Now is not the time to embark on further disruptive change, especially those that would require a substantial investment of resources for uncertain outcomes.
We, the undersigned UC staff, express our concern about the potential for the introduction of a Block Model at UC.
Why is this important?
We are concerned that:
- academic workloads are already at breaking point. We are concerned about potential efforts to weaken existing workload protections, rather than strengthening them, through Enterprise Bargaining. The introduction of a Block Model has the potential to make a significant problem worse.
- professional staff workloads will be negatively affected by the introduction of a Block Model. These concerns include a lack of information on how processes and systems for admissions, census dates and support cycles will be affected. This creates concern that professional staff will be required to accept unreasonable workloads, just to make a Block Model work.
- there is not a plan to resource any change, despite clear feedback that significant resourcing will be required. Without it, staff will likely be left to pick up the slack on top of existing workloads.
- UC has a very recent history of financial issues stemming from throwing millions at a shiny new education initiative – this is a concerning path to go down again.
- insufficient consideration has been given to what a Block Model means for academic integrity, especially in the age of AI. These concerns include that there may not be time to sufficiently address instances of suspected plagiarism or integrity issues, including through University processes, due of the relentless pressure to turn around marking quickly to reset for the next Block.
- there has not been sufficient attention given to prerequisites, course design, and professional accreditation. Some disciplines face significant risks which have not been adequately explored.
- a Block Model focuses extensively on teaching, without enough consideration of research. The potential for increases in teaching loads could compromise UC’s research, as well as research-informed teaching for students.
- there has not been adequate consideration of placements or internships, and how they would work with a Block Model.
- there would be impacts to staff resulting from any decision to embark on more University-wide change, following the job cuts of 2024 and 2025. Now is the time for stability, as constant change and uncertainty affects staff wellbeing.
- the introduction of a Block Model would prioritise customer satisfaction over pedagogy and meaningful learning. There is concerning potential for a Block Model to affect course quality and outcomes. This could affect the reputation of UC’s degrees.
- any attempt to limit a Block Model to postgraduate courses would likely cause more problems than it solves, as it fails to consider circumstances where undergraduate and postgraduate units are co-taught. Teaching staff may be required to work across multiple inconsistent teaching patterns. Professional staff who support the delivery of teaching would be severely impacted. Both academic and professional staff are concerned this could make effective workload planning impossible.
- a Block Model means far greater disruption for staff or students due to illness or misadventure, as a short absence would mean missing more content than otherwise. This makes it difficult to catch up and increases pressure on people to come to campus while ill.
- there isn’t a clear rationale for change. UC’s issues are not those of VU or SCU, and the University has conceded that it is not clear that a Block Model would recover costs through increased student load or retention. The potential benefits to the University have not been adequately articulated.
The information provided to UC staff thus far has not addressed these concerns.
While these genuine and reasonable concerns remain unaddressed, and in the absence of a compelling case backed by adequate and significant resourcing to facilitate the transition, we believe a Block Model should not be introduced at the University of Canberra.
While these genuine and reasonable concerns remain unaddressed, and in the absence of a compelling case backed by adequate and significant resourcing to facilitate the transition, we believe a Block Model should not be introduced at the University of Canberra.