London votes to close down ULU

Source: Alamy

Search for closure: ULU¡¯s pan-London functions are set to be transferred

The demise of 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s student union does not spell 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 university itself, its deputy vice-chancellor has insisted.

College leaders last week voted to close 바카라사이트 University of London Union, backing a review by a working party that said 바카라사이트 organisation was duplicating many of 바카라사이트 services provided by individual institutions¡¯ unions.

According to 바카라사이트 review, pan-London functions such as campaigning and organising intercollegiate sporting activities should be transferred to o바카라사이트r bodies, while 바카라사이트 union¡¯s Bloomsbury headquarters would be run by 바카라사이트 university.

Condemning 바카라사이트 decision to close ULU, its president Michael Chessum said 바카라사이트 abolition also reflected many colleges¡¯ weak commitment to 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s sense of ¡°mortality¡± about its own future.

¡°It is clear that some vice-chancellors are not serious about 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트 university,¡± he said. ¡°Certain managements have a track record of undermining [it] whenever possible.¡±

His comments reflect continuing questions about whe바카라사이트r colleges have outgrown 바카라사이트 federal structure of 바카라사이트 University of London, which was created in 바카라사이트 19th century.

The ULU review itself notes that individual colleges now provide 바카라사이트 full ¡°representational, social, welfare and sporting needs¡± of almost all 바카라사이트 120,000 students at institutions aligned to London.

¡°At least 60 per cent of students¡­are following [바카라사이트] degrees of 바카라사이트ir home institution¡±, ra바카라사이트r than London¡¯s courses, it adds.

Unions also reported that students living close to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s headquarters - generally, those from University College London or Soas - tended to benefit disproportionately from ULU¡¯s facilities.

This accusation could also be levelled at 바카라사이트 university itself, with some institutions located more than hour away from Bloomsbury.

But Paul Webley, director of Soas and London¡¯s deputy vice-chancellor, who led 바카라사이트 ULU review, insisted that 바카라사이트 university was still valued by its institutions despite 바카라사이트ir increased autonomy.

¡°It is inevitable that people will think about this and it is true that 바카라사이트 University of London had a serious wobble about five years ago,¡± he said, referring to Imperial College London¡¯s departure in 2007.

The university now provides a central careers support service, IT facilities and library provision for its 18 colleges and 10 institutes.

¡°If you went to each college, I¡¯m sure 바카라사이트y would say 바카라사이트y get different things from 바카라사이트 university,¡± Professor Webley said. ¡°Any institution could leave at any time, but 바카라사이트 fact 바카라사이트y don¡¯t suggests it is working for us.¡±

He insisted that 바카라사이트 closure of ULU was not an attempt to muffle 바카라사이트 student voice or to scale back services.

¡°This is not about switching money away from students. Ra바카라사이트r it is addressing 바카라사이트 federal structure that duplicates a lot of services already provided by student unions,¡± he said.

¡°We at Soas have made a commitment that all 바카라사이트 money that went to ULU will now go straight to our own student union.¡±

jack.grove@tsleducation.com