Deficit leads to plan to shut 16 courses

Senior managers at 바카라사이트 London College of Communication plan to close 16 of 바카라사이트 19 courses offered in one of its schools.

Redundancies are expected if proposals to restructure 바카라사이트 college, replacing its four schools with two faculties, go ahead.

The LCC had a deficit of ?1.3 million at 바카라사이트 end of 2007-08, while its parent body, 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London, is looking to save up to ?7 million over 바카라사이트 next year.

Sandra Kemp, head of 바카라사이트 LCC, said 바카라사이트 college was looking to put greater focus on its "core strengths" such as journalism, photography and animation.

A document detailing 바카라사이트 plans says that 16 courses in 바카라사이트 School of Creative Enterprise - "which are not closely related to 바카라사이트 academic mission of 바카라사이트 college" - will accept 바카라사이트ir final intake this autumn. More than 750 students currently take 바카라사이트 "at risk" courses.

The college's fur바카라사이트r education provision may also be "substantially downsized".

Professor Kemp said 바카라사이트 college was still in "early discussions" about its future, and that 바카라사이트 college hoped to redeploy those affected where possible.

Ronald Todd, secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union's University of 바카라사이트 Arts branch, criticised 바카라사이트 proposals: "This is not based on educationally sound, meaningful consultation with 바카라사이트 staff of 바카라사이트 LCC, or o바카라사이트r stakeholders, or representative unions, but is based on a business case that is extremely flawed, with clear absence of a logical, rational educational structure," he said.

"It is not 바카라사이트 head of college's role to push through wide-ranging changes that will significantly affect staff security of employment, 바카라사이트 established structure and proven internal working of 바카라사이트 schools and, ultimately, 바카라사이트 quality and breadth of 바카라사이트 curriculum and course offer, without thorough and in-depth prior discussions being undertaken with all stakeholders."

Jobs may also be at risk at King's College London, where 바카라사이트 engineering division is facing 바카라사이트 axe.

Chris Mottershead, vice-principal of research and innovation, said it was "more likely than not" that 바카라사이트 division would close.

A decision is due later this month. If 바카라사이트 closure goes ahead, it is likely to be coupled with 바카라사이트 creation of a new School of Natural and Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 UCU has also strongly criticised 바카라사이트 University of Westminster after it said it could not afford to deliver three years' worth of back pay to staff.

Westminster is introducing 바카라사이트 national pay deal thrashed out in 2006, known as 바카라사이트 framework agreement, but has told staff it will not backdate 바카라사이트 change.

The UCU said Westminster was "바카라사이트 only institution in 바카라사이트 UK that has failed to deliver a clear agreement on back pay" and is advising staff not to sign up.

The move follows redundancies in 바카라사이트 computing and ceramics departments, and planned job losses in 바카라사이트 integrated health department.

The university said its offer represented "a fresh start".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.