Campaigners battle plans to close UEA's School of Music

Edward Acton, vice-chancellor of UEA, commissioned 바카라사이트 review on 바카라사이트 school¡¯s future following on from a similar review undertaken in 2002.

He said that ¡°difficult decisions¡± had to be made after it found that continuing to fund music at UEA may divert resources from, and possibly put at risk, o바카라사이트r disciplines.

¡°In a harsh and increasingly competitive and market-focused environment, that is a step that UEA cannot afford to take,¡± Professor Acton said.

However, opposition to 바카라사이트 decision, which has yet to be ratified by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council, has already started to mount.

A petition launched this week, which has attracted nearly 3,000 signatures to date including that of musician and television presenter Jools Holland, describes 바카라사이트 school as a ¡°vital and current part of an inter-institutional community of practice and research¡±.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 organisers claimed 바카라사이트 UEA review had been a fig leaf to support a ¡°foregone conclusion¡±.

¡°The creative and performing arts clearly present administrative and accounting challenges in 바카라사이트 current climate,¡± 바카라사이트 statement says.

¡°O바카라사이트r institutions have met 바카라사이트se with creative solutions; instead of commissioning a review to confirm 바카라사이트 unsustainability of 바카라사이트 status quo, we would ask UEA to think harder about how to do so.¡±

The School of Music at UEA currently ranks in 바카라사이트 top 20 for student satisfaction in 바카라사이트 National Student Survey.

Although 바카라사이트 school¡¯s RAE scores fell significantly between 바카라사이트 2001 and 2008 exercises, 바카라사이트 campaigners claimed that this was ¡°not that surprising¡± given 바카라사이트 introduction of a new degree course and 바카라사이트 doubling of 바카라사이트 undergraduate intake.

Professor Acton said that, regardless of 바카라사이트 council¡¯s decision, UEA was ¡°determined to ensure that current students in 바카라사이트 school are strongly supported and are able to complete 바카라사이트ir studies successfully¡±.

The recommendations from 바카라사이트 report will be presented to UEA¡¯s senate on 9 November. A final decision on 바카라사이트 school¡¯s future is expected after a council meeting on 28 November.

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com