2003:13 R
Teacher survey 2003
A general summary of the survey is provided below.
Work enjoyable despite heavy workloads
What the survey reveals about working hours is that many teachers have long working weeks. A large number also say that they have too much to do during a normal working week, that they often work overtime or use Saturday and/or Sunday to catch up with their work. This corroborates the impression gained in previous surveys of teacher workloads.
Despite the long working weeks and the heavy workloads, most of the teachers enjoy their work. Being able to influence their working hours and their duties are two specific factors that can be linked to this job satisfaction and which most teachers say are very positive.
A great number of teachers consider that their work involves far too many simultaneous tasks. But many of them, in particular those teaching in medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, consider this to be positive.
Research is an important element in a post
Nine out of ten teachers feel that research possibilities within their post are important. At the same time, many of them express their dissatisfaction at not being given enough time for their research. The main obstacles are lack of unbroken periods of time and research funding. Many of the older male junior lecturers do not, however, feel that it is important to be able to carry out their own research.
The majority want to teach
Teaching on undergraduate courses plays a predominant role in the everyday activities of many teachers. Even though some teachers consider that teaching hinders them from carrying out their own research, an overwhelming majority assert that it is important for them to teach. Three out of every five are glad that they are able to teach undergraduate courses. There is however a group that are not pleased about having to teach. The teachers in this group can mainly be found in master´s programmes in engineering, in technological and natural science programmes and in programmes at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Virtually all teachers consider that it is important to be enthusiastic, interested and well-prepared for their teaching and the vast majority state that this is the case. In particular they claim to be enthusiastic about their subject. Most teachers consider that they are highly skilled teachers. Just over half of the teachers involved in undergraduate programmes would, however, like to be able to enhance their teaching skills if opportunities were available.
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