Academic Workload Modeling - Presentation - Matthew Walker
                     The Benefits of Academic Workload Modelling
Untangle
Your
Workload
By Matthew Walker
Quick Introduction
• Background in Computing
• GSK – Research and Development IT
• Lloyds Banking Group – Technical 
Project/Resource management.
• IBM – Project/Programme Management 
and Delivery Lead.
• Business / Projects
What’s the problem, why change?
• Complexity of academic departments Knowledge exchanging Teaching
• Wide range of activities
People 
• AdminCan be too siloed Management
• Duplication of work
Assessment
• Hard to estimate work
• Inefficient spending on work Public 
engagements Research
• Limited transparency
Grant Post grad 
• Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) applications supervision
Scholarship
Private sector 
colab
Exam 
Invigilation
What is Academic Workload Modelling?
An academic workload model looks at 
the different activities undertaken by 
academic staff. A ‘tariff’ is allocated to 
Work planned Helpful feedback loop each activity, which allows the workload 
and defined implications to be assessed. 
Work grouped 
in packages
Work 
allocated to 
individual in 
the system
Time spent on 
work recorded
The benefits of academic workload modelling
Manage 
Get a clear 
More cover 
picture of what 
transparency better
is important 
around your 
and where to 
workload.
spend time.
Create more realistic 
timelines/plans and Reduce duplication of work
Balance workload with 
others easier.
costings.
“An academic workload model is a tool to aid decision making and not make decisions”  
… Examples
• Management get a better idea of your workload and how much effort 
is involved for the tasks you do.  Relationship +1
• Get more support where it is truly needed. Not enough time in the 
day? Accurate data from a workload model will provide evidence of 
where you are too stretched.
• Help demonstrate the value that the department and you add!
Wider Benefits of Academic Workload 
Modelling.
• Better understanding of how much resource 
is required for a particular task.
• Transparent view of costings.
• Reporting capabilities.
• Can have different functions for different 
roles (admin view etc)
• Promote, equality diversity and inclusion. 
• Can help align activities with University 
strategy.
“The conclusion reached is that an effective workload 
allocation process requires academic staff to be fully 
involved in its development and implementation to 
ensure its credibility and fairness. Effectiveness is 
increased with a standardised university-wide approach, 
applied transparently and incorporated into the budget 
and resource allocation processes of the university so 
that increasing pressure on academics to meet a range of 
performance expectations is linked directly to realistic 
workloads.”
Kenny, J. and Fluck, A. (2014) The effectiveness of academic workload models in an institution: A staff perspective, Journal 
of Higher Education Policy and Management, Vol. 36, No. 6,  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1360080X.2014.957889
What would the next steps be?
• Model planning (Scope etc)
• Stakeholders defined
• Tariff system designed
On going action required to record hours.
Small and simple education for those who need to use the tool.
A well communicated plan to help implement on 
time. 
Working with implementation team to make sure 
we best support you through the transition
Questions?
Untangle Your Workload
Thank you!
By Matthew Walker
The Benefits of Academic Workload Modelling
References, sources and Useful Reading.
• Kenny, J. and Fluck, A. (2014) The effectiveness of academic workload models in an institution: A staff 
perspective, Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, Vol. 36, No. 6,  
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1360080X.2014.957889
• Perks, Simon (2019) Academic Workload Modelling.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKVzfDD9bVs&t
•  https://www.trac.ac.uk/about/