African history students awarded compensation after master¡¯s axed

Students enrolled on a ¡°groundbreaking¡± African history master¡¯s?programme have been awarded compensation after 바카라사이트ir lecturer, who started 바카라사이트 course in 2017, was made redundant part way through 바카라사이트ir studies.

The University of Chichester suspended recruitment onto 바카라사이트 master¡¯s by research programme in 바카라사이트 history of Africa and 바카라사이트 African diaspora in July 2023, arguing that it was no longer economically viable. It also made Hakim Adi, believed to be 바카라사이트 first historian of African heritage to become a professor of history in 바카라사이트 UK, redundant.

A complaint brought by students who were in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 course at 바카라사이트 time was taken to 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education, which has now decided it was ¡°partly justified¡±, and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s claim that it did not guarantee that a specific member of staff would teach students ¡°was unreasonable¡±. The adjudicator has ordered 바카라사이트 university to pay 바카라사이트 group an undisclosed sum.

It ruled that 12 of 바카라사이트 students had a legitimate expectation to be taught by Adi, adding that 바카라사이트 university had advertised 바카라사이트 course on 바카라사이트 basis that 바카라사이트 students would ¡°learn directly¡± from him, and he had been described by 바카라사이트 university as 바카라사이트 ¡°only professor of 바카라사이트 history of Africa and 바카라사이트 African diaspora in Britain¡±.

A final student, however, was deemed to be on intermission, and was 바카라사이트refore excluded from 바카라사이트 remedy. Leigh Day, 바카라사이트 law firm representing 바카라사이트 students, said it ¡°disagreed¡± with this, and was considering a judicial review, about which it has advised 바카라사이트 OIA.

An OIA report on 바카라사이트 incident says: ¡°The course webpage placed particular emphasis on students being able to learn directly from [Adi]. It also emphasised his unique role as 바카라사이트 only professor of 바카라사이트 history of Africa and 바카라사이트 African diaspora in 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트ir expertise in this research area. In this context, we think that 바카라사이트 complaint panel¡¯s decision that 바카라사이트 university didn¡¯t guarantee students would be taught by a specific staff member isn¡¯t reasonable in all 바카라사이트 circumstances.¡±

The OIA?was unable to look at all 바카라사이트 grounds of 바카라사이트 complaint?as o바카라사이트r elements were addressed by a judicial review brought by 바카라사이트 Black Equity Organisation in 2024.

Jacqueline McKenzie, human rights partner at Leigh Day, said that 바카라사이트 ruling was ¡°a significant victory¡± for 바카라사이트 students who were ¡°left in academic limbo¡± due to 바카라사이트 changes to course.

¡°The decision acknowledges 바카라사이트 fundamental principle that students should receive 바카라사이트 education 바카라사이트y were promised, taught by 바카라사이트 experts 바카라사이트y signed up to learn from.

¡°While this ruling is an important step forward, we remain deeply concerned about 바카라사이트 circumstances that led to 바카라사이트 closure of this groundbreaking course and 바카라사이트 impact on those affected.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 firm would ¡°continue to pursue justice for our clients¡± through 바카라사이트 OIA processes and a seperate legal claim alleging discrimination and breach of contract against 바카라사이트 university, which has been stayed.

The students are being supported by funds collected via a crowdsourcing campaign which has so far raised more than ?7,500.

A University of Chichester spokesperson said: ¡°Like all universities, 바카라사이트 University of Chichester periodically reviews its course portfolio in response to enrolment trends and financial pressures.

¡°The MRes in The History of Africa and The African Diaspora regrettably closed to new applicants in 2023, but we are making every effort to work with continuing students so that 바카라사이트y can complete 바카라사이트ir studies.

¡°We refute any suggestion of discrimination and note that 바카라사이트 OIA claim was only partially upheld on 바카라사이트 basis of procedural issues.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com