Survey overview
In total, 37 participants attended this workshop: 22 Assistant Professors (60%), 12 Associate Professors (31%), and 3 full Professors (9%). Before the workshop, attendees were requested to answer a pre-workshop survey. According to the survey, the following facts were identified:
- Average teaching load in the participants’ institutions (i.e., Architecture Schools): 2 courses per semester
- Average teaching hours: 12 hours per week
- Average class size: 26 students
- Average service load: 7 hours per week
- Average start-up fund: $10,000
Overall, the teaching loads were 50% to 100% higher, as compared to Engineering/Science Schools, in general, while the start-up fund sizes were significantly lower than those in other programs. 25% of the respondents reported five courses per school year. Also, 50% of the attendees reported that their start-up fund was even less than $10,000 at the start of their career. These facts indicate that Architectural faculties are exposed to relatively meager conditions that may limit their research activities and hinder effective performance.
A survey requesting a ranking of “Variables based on their significance for your research performance” listed the following elements:
#1. Reduced teaching load
#2. SEED research fund
#3. Students to recruit
#4. Reduced service load
#5. Mentorship (program)
#6. Facility
According to the post-workshop survey, this WAFES successfully met the attendees’ expectations by helping them understand how to develop research in the environmental sustainability area. Overall, as summarized in the Figure below, the score difference ranged from 6 to 9 scores in significance.
Pre- and Post-Workshop Comparison (on a scale of 1 (poor) to 100 (great)
Overall, the attendees evaluated the efficiency of the individual programs of the WAFES with scores ranging from 3.5 to 4.8 on a 5-point scale with no significant drop while scoring 4.5 on the overall usefulness of the workshop. Also, 57% of the attendances reported the WAFES met their expectations, and also 43% said it exceeded their expectations, while most of them strongly agreed that they are interested in attending a similar workshop like WAFES again.
See detailed data in the attached pre- and post-workshop survey available Appendix.