“A research-based tool for individual academics to estimate their workload”

 

An introduction to the Academic workload estimation Tool (The AWET)

The AWET is the result of ten years of research which involved over 2500 academics from around Australia. It is the first academic workload estimation tool that is designed to capture your whole workload. The AWET is innovative compared to other workload models in two ways: it not only provides realistic research-based estimates for all your teaching related tasks; but it also estimates the time you spend on research and service, which are missing from most institutional workload models.

How the AWET works:

The AWET builds a holistic picture of your work commitments by capturing the full range of activities you undertake. Each activity has an associated and research-based time value (or allocation). All you have to do is select the activities you undertake in a given year, and the AWET will automatically aggregate these to provide a realistic estimate of your annual workload.

The AWET can be used prospectively to explore scenarios and negotiate a reasonable workload that fits with your career aspirations and protects your welfare. It can also be used retrospectively to review what you actually did and consider career implications that may arise for the following year or years.

To begin, you can download the AWET and related documentation from the downloads link above.

On going improvement:

In recognition of the more than 2500 Australian academics who contributed their time and data, the AWET is freely available for individual academics to use. We would love to receive your feedback (via email-see below) on how it can be improved over time.

A growing number of universities have contacted us  to inform us how useful the AWET has been in improving their academic workload policy. We are happy to work, on a consultancy basis, with any university that wishes to explore the adaptation of the AWET to suit their context.

In the first instance you should contact us via email (see below) to arrange for an initial discussion. The consultative process would include guidance in the adaptation and implementation of the AWET to suit the organisational context; assistance with  policy development and implementation  and training as required. 

We hope you find the AWET useful.

Regards

John Kenny & Andrew Fluck

Chief Investigators

John.Kenny@utas.edu.au and Andrew.Fluck@utas.edu.au