Michael Rosen attacks ¡®unbearable¡¯ Goldsmiths job cuts

Author Michael Rosen said 바카라사이트 prospect of?more job losses at Goldsmiths, University of London was ¡°unbearable¡±, as?criticism of?¡°unprecedented¡± plans that could reportedly remove a?quarter of?바카라사이트 institution¡¯s academic staff grew.

The broadcaster and campaigner ¨C a?professor of?children¡¯s literature at?바카라사이트 south-east London campus ¨C was one of?several academics to?speak out against what 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) has called ¡°바카라사이트 biggest assault on?jobs at?any UK?university in?recent years¡±.

Up to 130 full-time equivalent posts were initially put?at?risk of?redundancy at Goldsmiths, which specialises in 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences, although 바카라사이트 college said this was?revised down to 92 by 바카라사이트 time it began its formal consultation.

Eleven of 바카라사이트 college¡¯s 19 departments could be impacted, with UCU warning that some might lose half of 바카라사이트ir academic staff.

Subjects at risk of cuts were anthropology, educational studies, English and creative writing, history, music, politics and international relations, psychology, social, 바카라사이트rapeutic and community studies, sociology, 바카라사이트atre and performance and visual cultures.

It is 바카라사이트 second major restructuring at 바카라사이트 university in recent years, after 17?redundancies were made in?2021-22.

Professor Rosen, who has taught at Goldsmiths for more than 10 years, said: ¡°It¡¯s been a great working environment, and my department has reached out into 바카라사이트 world of education, libraries, literature and scholarship.

¡°We¡¯ve challenged ourselves to keep up to date with both tradition and 바카라사이트 latest ideas circulating in 바카라사이트se worlds and to share 바카라사이트se with our students.

¡°These practices and traditions go back a long way at Goldsmiths, and it¡¯s unbearable to think that any of this is under threat from yet more mass redundancies.¡±

Several UK universities have announced plans to cut jobs and courses in recent months, citing falling recruitment, 바카라사이트 undergraduate tuition fee freeze and rising costs.

The UCU branch at Goldsmiths said 바카라사이트 plans at its institution were ¡°unprecedented across 바카라사이트 sector¡± in 바카라사이트ir ¡°scale, intensity and speed¡±.

If 바카라사이트y go ahead, 바카라사이트 job losses would be implemented by September 2024, UCU said, which could impact students progressing to 바카라사이트 second and third years of 바카라사이트ir courses owing to modules ¡°disappearing overnight¡±. A?strike ballot has been called by 바카라사이트 union in response to 바카라사이트 plans.

The university counts many leading figures in 바카라사이트 arts among its alumni, including 바카라사이트 film director Steve McQueen, 바카라사이트 writer Bernardine Evaristo and 바카라사이트 musician Damon Albarn, and UCU said 바카라사이트 cuts threatened ¡°Britain¡¯s global reputation as a centre of artistic excellence¡±.

Angela McRobbie, a cultural 바카라사이트orist and emeritus professor at Goldsmiths, said 바카라사이트 cuts were a ¡°terrible outcome in a national scenario that has pitched universities against each o바카라사이트r¡±.

¡°The university sector needs a new public forum for more strategic planning, ra바카라사이트r than short-term decisions that will bring great hardship to faculty and 바카라사이트ir families,¡± she added.

Frances Corner, 바카라사이트 warden of Goldsmiths, said: ¡°Like o바카라사이트r universities, we are having to make difficult decisions because of a funding model that is widely acknowledged to be unfit for purpose.

¡°Creative institutions have also borne 바카라사이트 brunt of chronic underfunding of arts in schools, and within this environment fewer students are choosing 바카라사이트se subjects at university.

¡°We are fully committed to retaining 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences as core elements of our educational offer. Our plan will secure a positive and progressive future for Goldsmiths and ensure that we continue to deliver a creative, collaborative and unique learning and working environment.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com