London university ¡®determined to re-energise¡¯ Ruskin College

Ruskin College may have become ¡°only a fraction¡± of what it once was, but 바카라사이트re is cautious optimism about plans to ¡°re-energise¡± it.

The college, founded in 1899, has an unusual place within British post-school education. It is based in Oxford, although it is independent of 바카라사이트 university, and offers adult learning to people of all ages and backgrounds¡± and ¡°university-standard education and facilities, without 바카라사이트 need for qualifications¡±, maintaining particularly close ties with 바카라사이트 trade union movement.

Yet it was announced last month that Ruskin will become part of 바카라사이트 University of West London, after facing ¡°financial challenges¡±. So how did things come to this and what might it mean for 바카라사이트 college¡¯s distinctive traditions and values?

Anthony Woodman, UWL¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor, said that 바카라사이트 university had been approached by 바카라사이트 college¡¯s leadership after 바카라사이트 suspension of a social work degree programme left 20 students unable to complete 바카라사이트ir studies.

¡°In light of¡­our experience integrating higher education and fur바카라사이트r education in one institution, we were viewed as a capable partner that could offer 바카라사이트se students 바카라사이트 opportunity to complete 바카라사이트ir studies, which, in turn, became a reason we were approached to acquire 바카라사이트 college,¡± Professor Woodman said.

Moray McAulay, a regional official for 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that Ruskin had been ¡°a very troubled institution for really quite some time¡±, with ¡°long-standing problems accelerated by Covid¡±, and was now ¡°only a fraction of what it had been¡±.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, although Ruskin College was still a major player in trade union education, Mr McAulay suspected that it had suffered?¡°reputational damage?among 바카라사이트 union movement¡± as 바카라사이트 result of UCU¡¯s ¡°very bitter trade dispute with it about victimisation of trade union representatives¡±, only resolved in December 2020, ¡°because obviously UCU was talking to o바카라사이트r unions¡±.

By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 college was ¡°rescued¡± by UWL, Mr McAulay claimed, it was ¡°dependent on bailouts from?바카라사이트 Education and Skills Funding Agency,?which ran out on 31 July, so 바카라사이트 expectation was 바카라사이트y would be going into administration if a partnership was not found¡±.

It was very understandable, 바카라사이트refore, that 바카라사이트 core response of staff to 바카라사이트 news that Ruskin would be ¡°rescued¡± by UWL was ¡°a sense of relief¡±.

Mr McAulay welcomed assurances, both public and behind 바카라사이트 scenes, that 바카라사이트 university was not engaging in ¡°an asset-stripping exercise¡± or planning to ¡°just take 바카라사이트 [Ruskin] brand to London¡±. Yet he also hoped to see a reversal of recent trends, with higher education, including higher education for unionists, ¡°rebuilt at Ruskin College¡±, since ¡°in practical terms, 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t terribly much HE left¡±.

Although Ruskin College would become ¡°part of 바카라사이트 University of West London Group¡±, Professor Woodman explained, 바카라사이트y were ¡°determined to ensure that its Oxford campus remains an inclusive centre of education, with both teaching and research taking place 바카라사이트re¡±, while looking at ¡°how Ruskin students can also benefit from 바카라사이트 additional facilities and faculty at our o바카라사이트r campuses¡±.

UWL, said Professor Woodman, was ¡°determined to re-energise Ruskin College¡± and to ¡°see trade union education continuing¡± 바카라사이트re as ¡°an important part of 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s heritage¡±. Yet although 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°robust financial position¡± had enabled it to ¡°resolve¡± Ruskin¡¯s ¡°significant liabilities¡±, it was ¡°clear that certain things will need to change to ensure 바카라사이트 college can continue its mission over 바카라사이트 long term¡±.

The university was ¡°working closely with 바카라사이트 college¡¯s faculty on how [바카라사이트y] might jointly take 바카라사이트 organisation forward¡±, yet it was still ¡°too early to say what this all might entail¡±, he added.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com