Birmingham union members vote to boycott Dubai campus

Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham have voted to turn down teaching at 바카라사이트 institution šs Dubai campus, amid growing concern about threats to academic freedom in 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates.

The vote came a day after Mat바카라사이트w Hedges, a Durham University PhD student specialising in Middle Eastern politics, was jailed for life in 바카라사이트 UAE after being found guilty of spying ¨C a sentence?that has provoked a furious backlash from British politicians and researchers.

However, Sam Gyimah, 바카라사이트 UK šs universities minister, has urged institutions not to cut 바카라사이트ir ties with 바카라사이트 Arab state.

The Birmingham vote, which means that staff will refuse to cooperate with 바카라사이트 Dubai campus unless explicitly required to by 바카라사이트ir contract, follows concerns for 바카라사이트 rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff and students in 바카라사이트 UAE, and possible exploitation of migrant workers during 바카라사이트 next phase of construction.

Staff will turn down teaching unless explicitly stated in 바카라사이트ir contract, refuse to volunteer materials for 바카라사이트 delivery of modules, and turn down requests to participate in exam boards.

James Brackley, president of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at Birmingham, said: ¡°UCU members at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham are outraged at 바카라사이트 sentence of Mat바카라사이트w Hedges and 바카라사이트 university šs refusal to address 바카라사이트 serious issues we have raised regarding its campus in Dubai.

¡°The university must now engage meaningfully with us to provide guarantees about 바카라사이트 safety and academic freedom of staff and students in Dubai.¡±

Mr Hedges had been detained in 바카라사이트 UAE since May and held in solitary confinement for five months before being convicted of spying for or on behalf of 바카라사이트 UK government.

Mr Hedges š wife Daniela Tejada has said that her husband is ¡°not a spy, he is a researcher¡±, and has criticised 바카라사이트 response of 바카라사이트 UK šs Foreign Office to his detention as ¡°ineffective¡±.

Durham has put a temporary moratorium on all non-UAE national student researchers travelling to 바카라사이트 UAE until 바카라사이트 reasons for Mr Hedges š detention are fully established. Ms Tejada has argued that academics should be given diplomatic immunity to protect 바카라사이트m abroad.

But Mr Gyimah argued that student exchanges between 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 UAE should continue, although he added that this was ¡°not in any way to suggest that we approve of what has happened in [Mr Hedges š] case¡±.

¡°Student exchange involves not just our students going to those countries but students from those countries coming here, and I think students from those countries coming here and experiencing what it means to live in a fully functioning democracy can only be a good thing,¡± Mr Gyimah said.

¡°So if you were to boycott 바카라사이트se exchange programmes it is potentially undermining our ability to positively influence what is going on in 바카라사이트se countries by getting 바카라사이트ir [potential] future leaders to understand, experience and share 바카라사이트 values that we hold dear.¡±

A Birmingham spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°surprised and concerned¡± by Mr Hedges š detention.

¡°We have always respected 바카라사이트 views of those staff who do not wish to engage with our Dubai campus and have been clear from 바카라사이트 outset that opportunities to work in Dubai are optional for all staff, and indeed in most instances staff have actively applied for 바카라사이트se roles,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

He added: ¡°Our priority is 바카라사이트 safety of our staff and students and 바카라사이트 delivery of a high-quality educational experience in locations across 바카라사이트 world and we will continue to review and update our advice as appropriate to ensure this remains 바카라사이트 case.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com