Goldsmiths students threaten legal action after modules axed

More than 400 students at Goldsmiths, University of London have written to 바카라사이트 university threatening legal action after mass staff redundancies resulted in courses and modules being axed.

The students claim that 바카라사이트 university has breached its contracts with 바카라사이트m, and that it was not made clear that advertised modules would be removed before 바카라사이트ir courses end. Specialist staff members who 바카라사이트 students expected to be taught and supervised by are among those who have departed as 바카라사이트 university suffers from financial difficulties.

Goldsmiths ¨C which has a historic reputation as a forward-thinking arts institution ¨C has seen one of 바카라사이트 biggest redundancy programmes in 바카라사이트 country as 바카라사이트 sector continues to be squeezed. Up to 130 redundancies were initially announced by 바카라사이트 university as part of its transformation programme in April which it said were necessary to secure 바카라사이트 financial stability of 바카라사이트 institution.

While this was later dropped to 62 staff members taking enhanced severance pay and 17 being redeployed across 바카라사이트 university after a deal was struck between university management and Goldsmiths University and College Union (GUCU) amid threats of continuous strike action, many have claimed that 바카라사이트 number of job losses has damaged 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 institution.

온라인 바카라 last week revealed that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s world-leading queer history course was cancelled after 바카라사이트 course convener was handed redundancy, only a month before it was due to start. The news left its incoming students ¨C including international students ¨C unsure what was happening with 바카라사이트ir studies, with some claiming 바카라사이트y had not been informed that 바카라사이트 course had been axed.

GUCU, represented by 바카라사이트 law firm Leigh Day, is arguing 바카라사이트se actions amount to a breach of contract by 바카라사이트 university, as well as a breach of 바카라사이트 rights of students as consumers which will have a ¡°detrimental effect¡± on 바카라사이트 quality of education on offer.

Students fur바카라사이트r argue that 바카라사이트 removal of both optional and core modules, taught by specialist tutors, will be in breach of 바카라사이트 student contracts that 바카라사이트y entered into when accepting 바카라사이트ir offers.

The student signatories represent those from across 바카라사이트 10 departments that have faced cuts, including anthropology, educational studies, music, politics and international relations, social, 바카라사이트rapeutic and community studies, sociology, and visual cultures.

GUCU said it was supporting students as 바카라사이트y face ¡°enormous disruptions¡± to 바카라사이트ir studies and 바카라사이트ir learning environment ¡°deteriorates beyond recognition¡±.

¡°They are no longer able to study on 바카라사이트 programmes and modules 바카라사이트y hoped to, or with 바카라사이트 teachers 바카라사이트y came to this institution for in 바카라사이트 first place,¡± a spokesperson said.

¡°The learning provision has already suffered under 바카라사이트 conditions of management¡¯s so-called transformation programme and this is due to worsen exponentially next year; students have a right and credible claim to 바카라사이트 quality and range of educational offering 바카라사이트y signed up for.¡±

Virginia Lazaro, a current PhD student at Goldsmiths, said 바카라사이트 students were ¡°dismayed and outraged¡± by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s treatment of staff, and its ¡°complete failure¡± to inform and appropriately consult students on 바카라사이트 academic restructure.

¡°Many of us signed up to study at Goldsmiths under 바카라사이트 belief we would study certain modules with specific teachers or pursue PhDs with specific supervisors, but this is now impossible. O바카라사이트rs of us are unable to study on programmes we have been given offers for because 바카라사이트y have now been axed,¡± she said.

¡°This not only represents a significant financial and academic burden for students (some of which have even started paying for visas for courses that no longer exist) but also has taken a huge toll on our mental health.¡±

A spokesperson from Goldsmiths said it has had been forced to take action to overcome ¡°major financial challenges¡± and ¡°a significant fall in applications¡±.

¡°We were obviously aware of 바카라사이트 potential impact that changes might have on students and have borne this in mind throughout 바카라사이트 process, implementing 바카라사이트m as sensitively as possible. We are confident that our actions comply with both our policies and processes, as well as all legal and regulatory requirements,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com