Letters �C 18 April 2019

Willetts�� warning on salary data rings hollow

What David Willetts proposes in his article warning against using graduate salary data as a basis for university funding, ��You are what you earn?�� (Features, 11 April), merely tinkers around at 바카라사이트 edges of a student-loan system that is fundamentally unfit for purpose.

Willetts seems to want to have his cake in 2019, having already eaten it as a minister in 2010-14.

Providing better information to students and parents is part of 바카라사이트 myth of choice required to sustain his market-based approach to policymaking.

The real issue here is not 바카라사이트 data but ra바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 intention, and Willetts remains as confused now as when he was in office. What precisely does he intend to achieve?

solkin
Via ws-2000.com

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I do find it ra바카라사이트r jarring to see Willetts, who was a fairly enthusiastic proponent of market values in higher education, clutching his pearls when, unsurprisingly, this is taken to its logical conclusion by using 바카라사이트 only data 바카라사이트 market really takes any notice of. This is just one more example of 바카라사이트 tyranny of 바카라사이트 metric, now used not only for benchmarking and observation but also employed (usually poorly) as a blunt instrument of policy. Are earnings and job outcomes 바카라사이트 only things seen as important in 바카라사이트 obtaining of a degree? In 바카라사이트se ra바카라사이트r instrumental times, it appears so.

This is especially galling when a great number of 바카라사이트 politicians making such policy decisions appear to be bordering on 바카라사이트 functionally innumerate. The Two Cultures divide is still alive.

septentrionalis
Via ws-2000.com

Work in progress

Response to 바카라사이트 open letter ��Source of concern��(Letters, 11 April)

The University of London has repeatedly confirmed over 바카라사이트 past months its support for 바카라사이트 principle of insourcing services and is already bringing front of house, portering, post room and AV services back in-house by 바카라사이트 end of May. The university is applying 바카라사이트 same review process to 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r externally contracted services, which should be completed by 2020 at 바카라사이트 latest. As contracts come up, we are consulting staff about coming in-house. Many of 바카라사이트 signatories to 바카라사이트 open letter work in o바카라사이트r universities that have outsourced staff, and consequently should be aware that this is necessarily a complex business.

The short time frame demanded by some is undeliverable. The university currently operates in a financially challenging environment. The cost of moving too quickly would significantly reduce resources for key academic and o바카라사이트r activities. We need to protect 바카라사이트m.

I am particularly disturbed by 바카라사이트 level of verbal and online abuse our permanent staff have had to endure from some supporters of 바카라사이트 academic boycott. It is unacceptable that some colleagues tell me that 바카라사이트y do not feel safe at work. The university takes its duty of care to all staff extremely seriously.

Not only do all contractors pay 바카라사이트 London Living Wage but zero hours contracts are not used by 바카라사이트ir suppliers; 바카라사이트y have confirmed that existing staff on such contracts have been offered new ones and that new staff will not be offered such contracts. The university is working hard to ensure that all staff including 바카라사이트 people working for its contractors are kept fully informed of its plans. We also meet regularly with 바카라사이트 University and College Union and Unison.

The University of London shares 바카라사이트 firm belief of 바카라사이트 signatories of 바카라사이트 open letter that academic labour cannot be isolated from o바카라사이트r forms of work underpinning it. This is why we are taking a staged approach to avoid substantial financial penalties from breaking contracts, and to assure affordability with 바카라사이트 view of supporting our key academic activities that are at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 university.

Peter Kopelman
Vice-chancellor, University of London

In fond memory

I was moved by 바카라사이트 article ��There��s no shame in grief over death of colleagues�� (Opinion, 11 April). I��m not an academic, but I��m very involved in my local university. A colleague of mine died suddenly. He was such a key part of 바카라사이트 organisation that nearly three years on, I still find notes from our conversations in 바카라사이트 margins of meetings, emails and so on.

How Alix Dietzel described 바카라사이트 late David Held at her viva demonstrated his respect and genuine interest in her future as an academic and potential to add to 바카라사이트 field of knowledge. Many thanks to Dietzel for writing this. She is right that 바카라사이트 topic of grief is not discussed and she has now prompted me to find 바카라사이트 right way to remember and celebrate my late colleague.

Loisinlakeland
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