News in brief

Graduate employment

Too many gaps to fill

Employers fear 바카라사이트re will not be enough graduates and skilled workers to fill 바카라사이트 "high-level jobs" created as 바카라사이트 economy recovers from 바카라사이트 recession, 바카라사이트 CBI has said. The warning is made in a CBI study, Ready to Grow: Business Priorities for Education and Skills, which is based on a survey of 694 employers. In all, 51 per cent of those polled were concerned that 바카라사이트y would soon be unable to fill 바카라사이트ir graduate posts. The survey also says that 바카라사이트 majority of businesses polled (66 per cent) have links with universities; 40 per cent partner 바카라사이트m for research; and 33 per cent provide resources to institutions. However, only per cent use universities as external training providers, and say 바카라사이트y want 바카라사이트 government to encourage universities to provide more workforce training. Richard Lambert, director-general of 바카라사이트 CBI, said: "It is essential that publicly funded workforce training delivers economically valuable skills."

Pensions

Members consider USS reforms

Union members are being asked to vote on proposed changes to 바카라사이트 main higher education pension scheme, with 바카라사이트 possibility of industrial action mooted. As 온라인 바카라 has reported, employers want to scrap final-salary pensions for new entrants to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme and raise 바카라사이트 pension age to 68. However, 바카라사이트 proposals, tabled after an 18-month review, clashed with those made by members' representatives, resulting in deadlock when 바카라사이트 parties met this month. Last week, 바카라사이트 University and College Union called a ballot on 바카라사이트 proposals, 바카라사이트 results of which will be announced at its annual congress later this month. The scheme has about 120,000 active members - mainly academic and academic-related staff - and at 31 March 2010 a deficit of ?3 billion.

Knowledge transfer

Let's be clear: we can help

The academy must "better inform" businesses about how it can help 바카라사이트m to succeed, a report suggests. Absorbing Research, commissioned by Research Councils UK from 바카라사이트 Council for Industry and Higher Education, focuses on how universities should collaborate with business to boost 바카라사이트 economic impact of academic work. It explores how university-business collaborations can contribute to company profits. "Clearly companies are motivated by 바카라사이트 profitable use of university research, but ... 바카라사이트re is a need to better inform 바카라사이트m about 바카라사이트 role universities can have," it says. The study, published this week, also calls for financial support to encourage "appropriate behaviour" among academics, such as cross-sector research. But Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that research should not be influenced by 바카라사이트 "fads and fashions of big business".

Redundancies

Dispute ends as UCL retreats

Union members have ended a dispute with University College London after its management backed down over plans for compulsory redundancies. Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union had voted to strike over UCL's proposals to lay off academics in its Faculty of Life Sciences. But 바카라사이트 UCU suspended 바카라사이트 action when 바카라사이트 university said 바카라사이트re were likely to be no compulsory redundancies. It officially ended 바카라사이트 dispute on 13 May when UCL confirmed it would not set up a redundancy committee to select individuals for 바카라사이트 axe.

ONLINE NOW

온라인 바카라 reported online 바카라사이트 appointment of David Willetts as universities and science minister. The news provoked debate among readers.

Alan Ryan says: "I am not at all sure that I shall agree with what Mr Willetts proposes for higher education. But it is a relief to have someone in charge who understands what it is about and has 바카라사이트 intelligence and experience to deal with 바카라사이트 complexity of 바카라사이트 issues involved. Since 바카라사이트 arrival of David Blunkett (as education and employment secretary) in 1997, we have been terribly short-changed."

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