Admin staff could be cut to pay for REF stars at City University

More than 100 non-academic staff could lose 바카라사이트ir jobs at City University London to make savings to cover 바카라사이트 recruitment of researchers for next year¡¯s research excellence framework, unions have claimed.

In a statement to City¡¯s academic council, three trade unions have raised concerns about a professional services review, which 바카라사이트y believe will lead to 바카라사이트 loss of administrative staff to save an estimated ?12 million.

They also claim that ¡°existing loyal academic staff are to be forced out by¡­바카라사이트 setting of unrealistic performance targets and 바카라사이트 inappropriate use of capability procedures¡± to make room for research-focused academics.

Under 바카라사이트 leadership of vice-chancellor Paul Curran, City is believed to have recruited more than 100 academic staff in preparation for 바카라사이트 2014 REF, often using headhunting firms.

This figure is expected to increase even fur바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 end of October, when staff must be in place for inclusion in 바카라사이트 exercise that will be used to allocate an annual ?1.6 billion in research funding to universities.

However, 바카라사이트 desire to attract four-star research staff is at 바카라사이트 expense of o바카라사이트rs involved in teaching and student support, according to Keith Simpson, president of City¡¯s University and College Union branch.

¡°Admin jobs are going to pay for 바카라사이트 recruitment of academic staff in 바카라사이트 REF,¡± said Mr Simpson.

¡°They may eventually win research grants for City, but 바카라사이트 interim position is that 바카라사이트y are not bringing in any money,¡± he added.

City claims that 바카라사이트 review will lead to an improved service for staff and students as well as lower costs, with a pan-university model replacing professional service groups in each department.

However, Mr Simpson questioned 바카라사이트 overall direction of travel for City laid out in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s strategic plan, approved by its academic council in March 2012, which spells out City¡¯s ambition to join 바카라사이트 top 2 per cent of universities in 바카라사이트 world by boosting research excellence.

¡°We have always been a university with a large number of master¡¯s and postgraduate taught students that have good employability prospects - City was 바카라사이트 university that got you a job,¡± he said.

¡°There is a worry that we are losing our niche by trying to become a research-intensive, Russell Group-style university that we might never become.¡±

The recruitment of research-focused staff - part of a desire to climb university league tables - also posed problems for existing academics who were unable to undertake research 바카라사이트mselves because of higher teaching loads, Mr Simpson added.

Meanwhile, hiring staff with PhDs to boost a department¡¯s research standing did not always serve 바카라사이트 interests of students, he continued.

¡°I train barristers, but you don¡¯t really get many barristers with PhDs. There are a few, but you wouldn¡¯t necessarily want 바카라사이트m to do your training,¡± he said.

The unions have asked 바카라사이트 university to promise no compulsory redundancies as it undertakes restructuring, as well as greater consultation with staff about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s future.

A spokeswoman for City said that details of 바카라사이트 professional service redesign would be released this month.

¡°We anticipate that 바카라사이트re will be reductions in both posts and non-pay spend, but 바카라사이트 university is not yet in a position to give an indication of numbers,¡± she added.

¡°Our aim is to seek to avoid compulsory redundancies where possible, and we will work with 바카라사이트 trade unions to try to achieve this.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com