Academics’ lack of productivity under the spotlight

Claims that nearly 40% of academic staff at La Trobe University have been research inactive for six years or more are indicative of a wider malaise and not confined to that institution, according to a leading commentator, writes Andrew Trounson for The Australian.

Grattan Institute higher education expert Andrew Norton said research inactivity may still be partly a hangover from the 1980s when there was an influx of teachers from colleges of advanced education who didn't come from a culture of research. But the academic union has hit back, accusing La Trobe Vice-chancellor Professor John Dewar of using a "crude measure" to arrive at his calculation. Dewar released the numbers in the context of looming cost-cutting and job losses to stave off an estimated AU$65 million (US$61 million) budget hole by 2015.
Full report on The Australian site