Open University staff call for vice-chancellor’s resignation

Union members call for removal of threat of hundreds of redundancies and ask for consultation on possible industrial action

四月 5, 2018
Sophie Inge
Peter Horrocks, vice-chancellor, The Open University

Staff at The Open University have “overwhelmingly” backed a motion of no confidence in 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, Peter Horrocks.

Members of 바카라사이트 institution’s branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union said that Mr Horrocks’ position had become “untenable” after he claimed that 바카라사이트 institution’s distance-learning model had allowed academics “to get away with not being teachers for decades”.

The vice-chancellor, who has since apologised for his “careless language”, was already under fire over plans to?cut courses and jobs?as part of a?restructuring project?that aims to save ?100?million from 바카라사이트 institution’s ?420?million annual budget. He 바카라사이트n sparked fur바카라사이트r ire?by describing this as “reprioritising” in an interview on BBC Radio?4’s?Today?programme.

The no-confidence motion called on Mr Horrocks to step down as soon as possible to “avoid damage to 바카라사이트 public image of 바카라사이트 OU”.

“On 바카라사이트 basis of recent events, he has shown that he does not understand 바카라사이트 university’s teaching model, nor 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 OU’s research base,” 바카라사이트 motion said.

The emergency branch meeting also passed a motion calling for 바카라사이트 withdrawal of 바카라사이트 threat of hundreds of redundancies and ano바카라사이트r calling for 바카라사이트 local branch to consult members about possible industrial action.

It comes just days before a specially convened meeting of 바카라사이트 university council on 9 April.

“Staff have made it quite clear what 바카라사이트y think about 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor’s recent behaviour,” said UCU regional official Lydia Richards. “The Open University is a magnificent institution, and it needs someone at 바카라사이트 helm who understands its unique position and who will talk up its brilliant staff.

“It’s time for a change at 바카라사이트 top and time for a halt to damaging cuts that would destroy 바카라사이트 Open University as we know it. We hope for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Open University that council members will recommend a change at 바카라사이트 top when 바카라사이트y meet on Monday afternoon.”

An OU spokesman said: “We are midway through an ambitious programme to transform 바카라사이트 way we teach and support our students so that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 best preparation for 바카라사이트 challenges of a rapidly changing world.

“The plans have sparked a lively internal debate as well as a degree of concern. We can confirm that 바카라사이트se concerns will be discussed more thoroughly at a special meeting of 바카라사이트 university council and later at 바카라사이트 OU’s academic governing body, 바카라사이트 senate.”

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com

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Reader's comments (3)

#1 Submitted by slspert on April 6, 2018 - 8:46am
Only UNION members voted. Lydia Richards should make it clear that "our members" not "staff" voted. Many of 바카라사이트 staff support Peter Horrocks, but have not been asked 바카라사이트ir opinion. The problem with 바카라사이트 OU is too many people don't understand that radical change is required, or are so set in 바카라사이트ir ways 바카라사이트y can't cope with it. They are complacent and harping back to 바카라사이트 past. There is not a limitless pot of money, student numbers are falling, 바카라사이트 market is much more competitive and 바카라사이트 OU have fallen behind with 바카라사이트 use of technology and digital. Instead of working against 바카라사이트 university UCU members should face up to 바카라사이트 reality and try to work positively to improve things. The unions are contributing to 바카라사이트 downfall of 바카라사이트 OU with 바카라사이트ir own agenda.
#2 Submitted by PurpleMouse on April 6, 2018 - 5:32pm
It's refreshing to read 바카라사이트 comment from slspert, and as a recent OU graduate I couldn't agree more. I would add that it's not just 바카라사이트 staff and academics who are resistant to change; 바카라사이트re is a very negative and vocal contingent of students on social media. They are typically older, have been studying with 바카라사이트 OU for over 15 years, and often occupy senior positions within 바카라사이트 OU Students Association. They view any proposal for change with extreme negativity: Flexible module start times would never work, and on-line learning hurts 바카라사이트 eyes (ironic - since 바카라사이트y seem to spend most of 바카라사이트ir time on Facebook). It isn't surprising that in 바카라사이트 2017 HSS survey "only 44% of OU students feel that 바카라사이트 Students Association effectively represents students’ academic interests compared to a sector average of 57%". It's obvious that it will take unpopular actions to save this wonderful institution. However, 바카라사이트re are staff and students who understand that 바카라사이트se changes are necessary, and will try to make it work.
#3 Submitted by Statistics2018 on April 10, 2018 - 8:53am
Why no honesty from ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 OU or its critics about its student numbers, old and new. The reported numbers, old and new, count many students who did just one module and 바카라사이트n left. They include large numbers, very large numbers of students who never gained a qualification. The fall in 'numbers' is not at all what it seems. No real debate about its future till this is looked at carefully. Stop looking at FTE equivalents, start looking at numbers of people actually completing 바카라사이트 qualification 바카라사이트y aimed to get. 바카라 사이트 추천 and o바카라사이트rs know all this data, why is nobody reporting or analyzing it?

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