Academics at the University of Sheffield have expressed dismay at a suggestion by the institution¡¯s director of human resources that those who don¡¯t fit a new definition of the ¡°excellent academic¡± will be sacked.

The comments from Andrew Dodman appeared in January in the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development¡¯s People Management magazine, and were highlighted to staff at Sheffield by the University and College Union.

The article examines the implementation of the Sheffield Academic Statement: a document released in 2010 that sets out ¡°the mix of qualities and responsibilities that distinguish the Sheffield academic¡±. In the article, Mr Dodman says its evolution was ¡°presented as academics talking to academics, although a lot of the thinking and groundwork was done by us in HR¡±.

The statement has prompted the development of a new system of performance management at Sheffield. In the article, Mr Dodman says one big challenge is ¡°what to do with people who have tried and tried but are just never going to be exceptional¡±. ¡°We will do what we can to find people a role where they can excel but, if they can¡¯t, then I think they will have to leave the organisation,¡± he says.

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Craig Brandist, vice-president of Sheffield¡¯s UCU branch, said the interview had caused considerable dismay among UCU members. ¡°Mr Dodman¡¯s quotations may have been somewhat unguarded but follow exactly the path the university has been on,¡± he said.

The union ¨C which must be consulted on the details of any new performance management system ¨C would ¡°resist the imposition of extrinsic targets and metrics at the expense of professional standards¡±. ¡°What does come as a surprise [in the letter] is the new system¡¯s systematic nature and the apparent contempt for academics and their right to be consulted,¡± he added.

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Mr Dodman said: ¡°As Times Higher Education¡¯s own Best University Workplace Survey recently showed, Sheffield is building a reputation as one of the best employers in the sector¡­we treat people well and also are ambitious about institution, team and individual performance.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com