Fewer restructures, more consultation, better recognition: key recommendations on tackling administrative burdens from Australian universities’ professional staff

Abstract

In recent years, the issue of administrative burden in universities has received growing attention around the world. Although professional staff are central to the operation of universities, little effort has been made to understand how these staff see these administrative burdens impacting their work, and to harness their views on how to best tackle such burdens on the ground. Examining the Australian case, this focused paper presents key findings from a nationwide survey capturing the perspectives of universities’ professional staff on manifestations and implications of administrative burden within their workplace. In the majority, professional staff reported that administrative burden had been increasing for all university staff, ultimately making for a less collegial work environment. Our participants identified fewer organisational restructures, better staff involvement in digital design, and better formal recognition of administrative workloads as key to reducing administrative burdens within universities.