Greek OU staff set to strike over new assessment

Greece's Open University faces a strike threat over a new method for assessing staff.

A management committee decision to alter the method of assessment of academic and co-opted scientific teaching staff has met with almost unanimous opposition. A number of demonstrations and legal actions have taken place, and staff are threatening to strike in the summer when live sessions and exams take place.

The Greek OU, headquartered in Patras, was established by charter in 1992 but began operating only in 1999. It employs 25 academic staff and nearly 1,000 co-opted scientific teaching members of staff under contract for a specific period or project.

The new assessment method does not take into consideration previous service, and it places greater emphasis than before on publications in foreign languages rather than Greek.