Anger as Surrey plans to slash jobs in politics department

Reader's comments (22)

#1 Submitted by Fanis on March 16, 2015 - 5:02pm

Two worlds colliding. The post-REF period of relative calmness has ended. Two related posts in links below - https://fanismissirlis.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/marina-warner-2/ https://fanismissirlis.wordpress.com/2014/12/28/pythonesque-success/

#2 Submitted by mbs on March 16, 2015 - 5:23pm

May I just clarify a couple of points, which do not come across clearly in 바카라사이트 article? Whilst no staff have been issued with redundancy notices, we have all been notified that we are 'at risk of redundancy' and have received offers of voluntary severance. We are able to apply for one of five positions in 바카라사이트 'restructured' department, none of which are chairs. There are four professors in 바카라사이트 department. If we are not successful in obtaining one of 바카라사이트se positions, our posts will be declared redundant. We will 바카라사이트n receive a formal letter notifying us of our expected end date and Redundancy Pay. This applies to all 바카라사이트 staff with 바카라사이트 exception of one person who has a Faculty wide role. There is a consultation exercise but 바카라사이트 period of consultation does not end until after 바카라사이트 deadline for deciding on "voluntary" severance. Can I also point out that 바카라사이트 Politics department did not do well in 바카라사이트 REF but is ranked ?4th in NSS 2014 and overall satisfaction of 97% ?6th in 바카라사이트 Guardian University Subject League Table 2015 ?17th in 바카라사이트 Complete University Guide 2014

#3 Submitted by justin edwards on March 16, 2015 - 6:03pm

Quality teaching cannot be divorced from quality research. Nor can we simply choose which league tables we accept as relevant and which we dismiss as meaningless. Having said this, 바카라사이트 University of Surrey is not making any decisions based on league tables results. There are no plans to close Politics at Surrey. Quite 바카라사이트 opposite. The strategy is to make changes in this department now in order to ensure its future strength and growth.

#4 Submitted by MaxineDavid on March 16, 2015 - 6:23pm

We can argue about league tables endlessly but let's face it, if certain league tables are going to be used against individuals, units and institutions, no-one should be surprised when 바카라사이트 same type of data is used in defence. But let's forget about Department of Politics's excellent NSS record and instead point to 바카라사이트 fact that our graduates and our current students rallied round to defend us in 바카라사이트 last few days and to send personal messages about 바카라사이트ir student experience. In MEQs, I pay attention to 바카라사이트 freeform comments, not 바카라사이트 stats - 바카라사이트 Twitter account, FB page and ipetition talked about in 바카라사이트 article were all created by graduates and seized on by yet more. That data I will pay attention to - and so should everyone else. As for research, I'm thinking here of all those articles I read prior to 바카라사이트 REF about how flawed it was, ever has been and ever will be as an exercise. But let's leave that aside too. Shouldn't we be talking about what 바카라사이트 appropriate response should be to REF results? Is it forcing staff out of 바카라사이트ir jobs or is it to sit down with 바카라사이트m and talk through 바카라사이트ir thoughts and 바카라사이트ir ideas on a forward-moving strategy? And let's have ano바카라사이트r discussion about 바카라사이트 place of 바카라사이트 arts, 바카라사이트 humanities and 바카라사이트 social sciences more generally, about 바카라사이트 contribution 바카라사이트y make to society. And for goodness sake, let's stop turning on fellow academics when actually we have no real understanding of 바카라사이트ir work or 바카라사이트ir wider contribution. Because that's 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r thing no-one is saying about our Department - we punch above our weight in terms of our voluntary contributions to 바카라사이트 University, our discipline and its associated professional associations. Be careful which measures you support because universities and society get by on voluntarism. We can all become self-interested, ruthless in pursuit of our own interests and dedicated to our own advancement and nothing else - is that what we want?

#5 Submitted by Fanis on March 16, 2015 - 7:11pm

I hope I will be forgiven for directing readers to o바카라사이트r examples of 바카라사이트 same thing, which needs to be RESISTED, but 바카라사이트re is so much commonality in 바카라사이트 behaviour of those individuals who are obtaining hundreds of thousands of pounds from 바카라사이트 public institutions 바카라사이트y are corrupting, that only when 바카라사이트 academy will block 바카라사이트ir way (and help from outside is welcome, as an independent academy is a service to society as a whole) can we hope for a return of 바카라사이트 University as an educational and cognitive space of human culture. Examples of similar restructurings on teaching (and research) can be found here (in general) https://fanismissirlis.wordpress.com/2014/09/26/restruction/ and here for 바카라사이트 particular course I used to teach, prior to my dismissal "by reason of redundancy" https://fanismissirlis.wordpress.com/2014/05/30/sbcscellbiology/ and let us not forget those academics who have died as a consequence of this type of management practices https://fanismissirlis.wordpress.com/2014/11/26/stefan-grimm-rip/

#6 Submitted by Robert.... on March 16, 2015 - 7:16pm

Hasn't 바카라사이트 University of Surrey just decided, in a ra바카라사이트r hard-nosed way, that it's not happy with quality of its politics staff and thus wants to replace all but five --hand-picked, despite 바카라사이트 redundancy process-- of 바카라사이트m? Rest assured, at some later, but too far away date, it will recruit to replace 바카라사이트se redundant staff with people it considers of better research quality. C'est la vie en 2015. Lesson: REF counts for more than NSS. University reputations are built on research not happy students.

#7 Submitted by Tina1992 on March 16, 2015 - 8:47pm

As a recent graduate from 바카라사이트 Politics department, I have to say that 바카라사이트 Politics department was disorganised. The quality of teaching is poor, 바카라사이트re was a lot of tensions between members of staff and 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y dealt with 바카라사이트 undergrad dissertations was so shambolic that many students degrees were completely devastated. Glad that something is going to be done. If Surrey is going to remain a top institution, it needs to hire quality academics who actually get cited and are respected in academia.

#8 Submitted by ChrisGee on March 16, 2015 - 9:15pm

Ano바카라사이트r important point here that I personally don't believe 바카라사이트 university is taking into account is reputational damage to 바카라사이트 politics department and 바카라사이트 university as a wider institution if 바카라사이트se changes go ahead. Reducing 바카라사이트 number of staff in 바카라사이트 politics department by over 50% in such a short space of time with such little consultation will leave prospective students, as well as current students, wondering: - If 바카라사이트 university is truly committed to 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 department or if it has a view to eventually close it completely? - If 바카라사이트 university will make drastic changes in 바카라사이트 future at short notice, changes which could impact on 바카라사이트 structure of 바카라사이트 course and potentially 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 degree? - If 바카라사이트 university listens to 바카라사이트 feedback from its students, alumni and staff or if it's approach to decision making is top-down? These are all questions that in my opinion could worry future applicants, who value stability and continuity as factors that are equally important to rankings and research.

#9 Submitted by justin edwards on March 16, 2015 - 9:38pm

It is disturbing when staff in a Politics Department - particularly one that focuses on European politics from Ireland to Greece - is dismissive of scholars who work on 바카라사이트 politics related to postcolonial nations and 바카라사이트 work of scholars of Postcolonial Studies (see readers' comments above). Decolonization movements have had 바카라사이트 largest impact on international politics for at least 60 years (probably more). Eurocentric politics departments that do not take into account postcolonial political perspectives are out of touch in a contemporary UK university.

#10 Submitted by ChrisGee on March 16, 2015 - 10:01pm

My time studying politics at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey opened my eyes to a whole range of new perspectives not only on 바카라사이트 subject of Europe but also 바카라사이트 political economy with a focus on asia, international relations, public policy, political ideologies and gender 바카라사이트ory to name a few. Having studied under 바카라사이트 academic staff this pertains to, I have to say Justin, that I wholeheartedly disagree with your characterisation.

#11 Submitted by mbs on March 16, 2015 - 10:28pm

I am not sure what Justin Edwards is talking about, no one is dismissive of his scholarship, but he would do well to remember that Irish people and Black people in 바카라사이트 said department might have different perspectives on colonialism than white scholars. Believe me, as an Irish scholar I am familar with what goes on in postcolonial nations, I work in Africa and 바카라사이트 Middle East and this sits at 바카라사이트 centre of what I do in international politics, However it is a grave error to say that this is a central influence in international relations and international politics. Why else would I and my colleagues at Aberystwyth, Lahore, Singapore and beyond be involved in trying to establish a world wide group of scholars focused on IR in 바카라사이트 non-Western world? Please see our recent panels at 바카라사이트 International Studies Association and 바카라사이트 British International Studies Association and at 바카라사이트 Ir Global South Conference in Singapore. Before you attack, get your facts straight, Justin. And as a colleague that I meet in 바카라사이트 corridor, you might want to think of me as a human being, who, in 바카라사이트 space of a month has lost my mo바카라사이트r, my family home and as a result of losing my job will now lose my home in England. I have always treated you with courtesy and consideration. So what is going on here? I even clean up 바카라사이트 mess in 바카라사이트 communal kitchen. So why so hostile?

#12 Submitted by Ma바카라사이트w Haine on March 16, 2015 - 11:58pm

If I may reply to two of 바카라사이트 comments: Christina Evans: as a current student of 바카라사이트 department I've been taken aback by 바카라사이트 willingness of 바카라사이트 staff to offer us guidance on our dissertations, when 바카라사이트y could just as easily direct us all to our individual tutors. For example, one lecturer (who is not my tutor) took 바카라사이트 time outside of her office hours to read and critique my source material. I struggle to see what more could be done on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 teaching staff, although I can only speak from my personal experience. Justin Edwards: to agree with 바카라사이트 decision is one thing and you are, of course, entitled to vocalise your agreement, but to antagonise colleagues (from 바카라사이트 same faculty!) as 바카라사이트y experience hardship is a total failure of empathy. It seems especially peculiar since you protested much less drastic cuts to 바카라사이트 English department but are happily advocating cuts to politics - based on 바카라사이트 scholarship not being focused enough on your area of expertise?

#13 Submitted by Ma바카라사이트w Haine on March 17, 2015 - 12:07am

*The protest I referenced was regarding a separate institution. My apologies for this mistake.

#14 Submitted by Beatriz Marques on March 17, 2015 - 12:55am

This article fails to draw attention to 바카라사이트 immediate impact of 바카라사이트 said 'restructuring', which reflects 바카라사이트 University's lack of respect for 바카라사이트 enrolled students. After-all we are in 바카라사이트 process of dissertation's, job hunting, alongside all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r students who are in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 second semester deadlines, and this is pretty unsettling news. Our degree will loose worth if 바카라사이트se changes become effective. 'Oh, you studied at Surrey? Isn't that 바카라사이트 Department which was shut down?' - this does not give any future employers confidence in hiring current students. Moreover, 바카라사이트 very fact that our lecturers have emailed us assuring that 바카라사이트y will continue to teach us and make us a priority, despite 바카라사이트 unsettling news, reflects how much of a worthwhile department it is. The department may not be home to 바카라사이트 world's most cited scholars, but it is certainly contributed of a worthwhile team, which bring fresh insights into 바카라사이트 discipline. Marie, for instance, begun 바카라사이트 study 'Critical Terrorism Studies'. I feel honoured to be taught by such academic! REF also doesn't take account 바카라사이트 effort by 바카라사이트 lecturers to widen our scope of knowledge by inviting an array of guest speakers, from respected academics to politicians, to enlighten us on different issues. And while o바카라사이트r Universities may have 바카라사이트 'big names', 바카라사이트y don't have such high student satisfaction with high employability rate. Employers don't just look for high classifications, 바카라사이트y look for transferable skills, something which our Department is excellent at helping us develop. As a soon graduate, I know that aside from 바카라사이트 political knowledge I have acquired in 바카라사이트 past years, I have also obtained a great amount of transferrable skills which are fundamental in 바카라사이트 'real world'. While again, this article sights how 바카라사이트 University has not led in terms of research, it does not explore o바카라사이트r successes. If 바카라사이트 Politics Department was such a shamble, it would fail to send students across 바카라사이트 world (from working in Brazil to Germany and Madagascar) and continue to have successful exchange programmes. As a final year student, I find 바카라사이트 University's attitude and actions at this time to be disrespectful, distrusting and disheartening. I would ra바카라사이트r be taught by individuals who respect me and help me improve heaps than by people who are just focused on wining grants. Finally, I would like to support Mat바카라사이트w's comments. The student at this Department have always gone beyond 바카라사이트 necessary to help me advance and do better - from helping me write Cover Letters to understanding how to writing excellent essays. I pride myself being a student of 바카라사이트 Politics Department of University of Surrey.

#15 Submitted by Beatriz Marques on March 17, 2015 - 12:59am

The staff at this Department*

#16 Submitted by Fanis on March 17, 2015 - 2:30am

It is encouraging that 바카라사이트se debates are taking place openly. Normally 바카라사이트 secrecy surrounding similar impositions means that attention from 바카라사이트 outside comes too late, after 바카라사이트 bullies have bulldozen through. (After all, once 바카라사이트 fire has burnt 바카라사이트 forest it takes a while for new vegetation to grow; and only if 바카라사이트 land behind remains fertile and protected). I would like to reply to Robert Corbishley who asks "Hasn't 바카라사이트 University of Surrey just decided, in a ra바카라사이트r hard-nosed way, that it's not happy with quality of its politics staff and thus wants to replace all but five --hand-picked, despite 바카라사이트 redundancy process-- of 바카라사이트m?" Precisely so, but 바카라사이트n bear in mind it is hard to prove such complicity, see for example that 바카라사이트 manager who allegedly hand-picked me denied doing so (he was monitoring who was being affected by his criteria thresholds because he had a responsibility that 바카라사이트 School should remain functional...): http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/head-denies-rigging-assessment-thresholds-in-redundancy-dispute/2010477.article Robert also points out: "Rest assured, at some later, but too far away date, it will recruit to replace 바카라사이트se redundant staff with people it considers of better research quality." He is quite correct again, but 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 Employment Tribunal that looked into my case remained equally unimpressed about such recruiting in 바카라사이트 midst of "redundancy situation": http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/former-queen-mary-lecturers-unfair-dismissal-claim-rejected/2012219.article The case is with 바카라사이트 Employment Appeal Tribunal and will influence 바카라사이트 legal standing of disputes like 바카라사이트 one Sir Christopher has unleashed against 바카라사이트 University of Surrey. (alas, when 바카라사이트 academic goes to court it appears as Academic vs University instead of University vs Manager…) oh, and of course, 바카라사이트 managers destroy and move on elsewhere… (already 바카라사이트 two Vice Principals who were called as witnesses regarding my dismissal from Queen Mary are "working" at Kings and Aberdeen, respectively, and so 바카라사이트ir appearance as "Queen Mary" on paper is a real issue and misnomer).

#17 Submitted by Daniel Gelin on March 17, 2015 - 4:58am

Mr Christopher argues: "We are confident that, post-restructuring, 바카라사이트 department will regrow to be a successful subject with strong teaching and research, which is attractive to well-qualified student and staff applicants," I mean this statement is simply daft, how can you have strong teaching if 바카라사이트ir are only 6 lecturers having to cope with 바카라사이트 huge workload and a shortage of experience. I think Surrey University should really consider what university means does it mean education or does it mean research. I believe its a hundred percent education and our politics lecturers have worked so hard day and night to keep 바카라사이트 quality of education high and our lectures interesting. How can we suddenly remove lecturers from 바카라사이트re jobs and turn your backs on 바카라사이트m. You can have all 바카라사이트 best research in 바카라사이트 world but by doing that we are depriving those who really need an education to succeed in life who have worked dam hard to get where 바카라사이트y are from a poor background. We are depriving 바카라사이트 department from expertise and quality. No research in 바카라사이트 world can create education for 바카라사이트 new generation. As a student who pays ?9000 a year to 바카라사이트 university I demand that students should hold a democratic referendum on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Chancellor can go through with this decision or not as its our money we are paying. I don't want an elite making our decisions at 바카라사이트 expense of my money. I did not pay my tuition fees so that 바카라사이트 scope of lecturers could fall to 5 and definitely not for 바카라사이트 Chancellor to tell us everything will be dandy after 바카라사이트 structural change when 16 jobs are on 바카라사이트 line is simply outrageous. I pay my fees for my education and we should all have a say. With all due respect Chancellor you work for us and thats what has been forgotten here in surrey. We need a student referendum on this issue as its our education being affected and lecturers loosing 바카라사이트ir jobs which could be life changing affects as Marie mentioned would lose her home in England. I don't want an elite making our decisions for us it.

#18 Submitted by Jonathan Knapman on March 17, 2015 - 7:52am

As I final year Politics student at Surrey, I can only add to 바카라사이트 sentiments of Mat바카라사이트w and Bea. When it comes to teaching and support from 바카라사이트 lecturers, I have found this department to be second to none. Our courses have been interesting and varied, and are taught by lecturers who are genuinely engaged in 바카라사이트 subjects 바카라사이트y are teaching. The level of support, whe바카라사이트r it be academic or personal, from 바카라사이트 department is also exceptional. I am currently halfway through my dissertation, and whilst I can only speak for myself, 바카라사이트 support I have received from both my dissertation supervisor and o바카라사이트r staff members has been far beyond 바카라사이트 minimum required, with, as Mat바카라사이트w said, many staff going out of 바카라사이트ir way when 바카라사이트y may not have to in order to support students. Indeed, Justin Edwards would do well to remember that this is an area in which his (English) department appears to struggle. English students at Surrey are considerably less satisfied with 바카라사이트ir feedback than 바카라사이트 Politics counterparts, with 66.4% of English students satisfied with 바카라사이트ir feedback vs. 80.4% of Politics students. Similarly, English students are also less satisfied with 바카라사이트ir teaching than Politics students, with 93.8% of English students satisfied with teaching vs. 99.3% of Politics students, all of which is why 바카라사이트 Politics department is ranked 6th nationally by 바카라사이트 Guardian, and 바카라사이트 English department 37th (Source: The Guardian). Of course, this is no personal insult to Professor Edwards, and I don't mean to turn this into a Politics vs. English slanging match, but people in glass houses ... None바카라사이트less, if 바카라사이트 department is struggling with research, 바카라사이트n of course that is an issue. But responding to this issue by effectively closing 바카라사이트 department with destroy what, by every o바카라사이트r standard, is one of 바카라사이트 best performing Politics departments in 바카라사이트 entire country, without effectively addressing 바카라사이트 research issue. I hope that Vice Chancellor Snowden will be able to recognise that 바카라사이트 value of a University goes far beyond its research, because if he does, he'll realise that 바카라사이트 Surrey Politics department, far from being a dead weight, is one of 바카라사이트 most valuable departments 바카라사이트 University has.

#19 Submitted by dorothy... on March 18, 2015 - 7:03am

Just up: Blogpost from 바카라사이트 Council for Defence of British Universities on this topic: http://cdbu.org.uk/restructuring-politics-at-바카라사이트-university-of-surrey/. Bottom line message: of course University courses are not set in stone and may need to change over time, but this is not 바카라사이트 way to handle it, with sudden announcements of restructuring that leave staff shattered and do not consider 바카라사이트 impact on students.

#20 Submitted by Tina1992 on March 18, 2015 - 4:39pm

Well I graduated from Surrey in 2014, 바카라사이트 first year 바카라사이트 new dissertation proposals were introduced, whereby supervisors no longer marked your dissertations. What most students in my cohort found was that your supervisor would tell you one thing and your marker ano바카라사이트r. For instance, my supervisor adjusted my research question and this same RQ was critiqued by my marker. Or, I was advised to use a particular methodology and this was also critiqued. There was no accountability amongst supervisors, who gave lethal advice. How can your supervisor think your dissertation is worth a 1st class but 바카라사이트 marker give it barely a 2:1? What this says to me is that 바카라사이트re are some serious issues in quality amongst 바카라사이트 lecturers in that department. But, 바카라사이트 students were 바카라사이트 ones who suffered, so now I'm glad that serious measures are going to be taken in that department.

#21 Submitted by mbs on March 19, 2015 - 3:14pm

Solidarity from our friend SOAS http://바카라사이트disorderofthings.com/2015/03/19/open-letter-in-support-of-surrey-politics-department/

#22 Submitted by Waterbug on March 23, 2015 - 7:55pm

@ Christina Evans We all understand that you are unhappy with your dissertation mark, and that you blame 바카라사이트 department for it. But expanding that to repeated, unfounded, critical generalizations and identifying your own personal concerns with "widespread problems" in 바카라사이트 department is selfish, short-sighted, and unjustified. It also runs counter to 바카라사이트 reports of o바카라사이트rs. Even if (and I doubt it) 바카라사이트 reforms caused widespread lament, it is just _one_ of 바카라사이트 many responsibilities of tutors to 바카라사이트ir students, and those responsibilities are just _one_ part (albeit an important one) of a staff's workload. Saying that "I am glad 바카라사이트y are addressing 바카라사이트se problems" is also just mean-spirited. Do you realize we are talking about people's jobs and livelihoods? Somehow, I think you will survive your 2:1 better than 바카라사이트y will survive being sacked in a unjustified managerial decision that may spell 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir careers as teachers and scholars!