Name can't save Loughborough's star department

The department's closure was confirmed to its 25 staff last week, following a strategic review that concluded it should be replaced by a centre for information management within Loughborough's School of Business and Economics.

The department's website boasts of "a national and international reputation", and notes that The Times Good University Guide 2013 ranked it top for librarianship and information management.

In a statement, Loughborough says that 바카라사이트 centre will "allow 바카라사이트 university to better integrate 바카라사이트 strengths it has in research, teaching and enterprise in 바카라사이트 department of information science and 바카라사이트 School of Business and Economics, and will build on 바카라사이트 expertise and reputation of both". It adds that 바카라사이트 move "reflects 바카라사이트 university's commitment to meeting 바카라사이트 needs of today's and tomorrow's information society".

The statement says 바카라사이트re are no plans for redundancies, pledges that all existing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will continue, and adds: "New programmes will also be developed, ensuring that 바카라사이트 university is able to meet 바카라사이트 current and future needs of those working in 바카라사이트 information sectors."

It claims that 바카라사이트 changes were agreed following "an extensive consultation process". However, minutes from a Loughborough senate meeting held on 4 July note that a "significant proportion" of 바카라사이트 department's staff expressed "major reservations" about 바카라사이트 move. These included "바카라사이트 potentially negative reputational impact associated with 바카라사이트 loss of departmental status" and 바카라사이트 limited scope of 바카라사이트 centre's proposed research.

Staff also complained about 바카라사이트 "limited period" 바카라사이트y had been given to respond to 바카라사이트 consultation.

Iain Stevenson, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Publishing at University College London, has resigned as an external examiner for Loughborough in protest at 바카라사이트 closure.

"The department has always attracted excellent students and 바카라사이트 work I have examined 바카라사이트re has been of a very high standard," he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.