Morale plunges as London giants target academics

University College London could make "unprecedented" compulsory academic redundancies, a move that follows dozens of job cuts at Imperial College London.

As part of a drive to find ?3 million in savings in its faculty of life sciences, UCL has set up a "redundancy committee", as required by its governing statutes if it is considering forcing academics out.

The UCL branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union says in an email to members that compulsory layoffs for academics would be "unprecedented" at 바카라사이트 institution.

At Imperial, 21 academic and non-academic posts have been cut in 바카라사이트 faculty of medicine.

Both UCL and Imperial are members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, which this month warned that UK higher education faced "meltdown" as a result of government budget cuts.

Michael McGarvey, president of Imperial UCU, said 바카라사이트 institutions were "two of 바카라사이트 top universities in 바카라사이트 world, not just 바카라사이트 country", according to 온라인 바카라's rankings.

"If 바카라사이트 management of 바카라사이트se types of university behave like this, what will it be like in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK?" he asked.

UCL staff have been told that 바카라사이트 faculty of life sciences will "make every effort to minimise 바카라사이트 number of redundancies" through voluntary severance and early retirement schemes.

However, Sean Wallis, UCU branch secretary at UCL, said that staff bringing in less research funding could be targeted.

This would threaten "unfashionable and curiosity-driven research" less likely to attract funding and risk changing "바카라사이트 nature and culture of 바카라사이트 university", he added.

UCL is seeking 6 per cent savings across all departments. A spokesman said that 바카라사이트 faculty of life sciences "has not been able to achieve 바카라사이트 target set".

He said that although its teaching and research were "buoyant", 바카라사이트 faculty had seen a rise in staff costs "at a time when income has been relatively static".

At Imperial, 바카라사이트 UCU is unhappy that job cuts were implemented while 바카라사이트 university went ahead with its ?28 million purchase of a new site in Wood Lane.

Dr McGarvey said: "People who have been doing good work have been called in and told that 바카라사이트y're under threat. This instability spreads among everyone. Morale is pretty much at rock bottom."

Wave of unrest

There has also been unrest over redundancy plans elsewhere in 바카라사이트 sector.

At 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire, a protest against job cuts last week coincided with an informal visit by 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency.

The UCU said it will ballot for industrial action unless redundancy proposals are withdrawn.

It said 바카라사이트 university plans up to 16 compulsory redundancies as it strives to make up a ?36 million deficit.

This week 바카라사이트 University of Westminster told staff that it will cut 285 jobs by 바카라사이트 end of July, equal to 156 full-time equivalent posts. The reductions initially will be delivered through a voluntary scheme.

Barry Jones, UCU regional official for London North, said 바카라사이트re was a "high level of shock around 바카라사이트 university".

Westminster wants to break even and reduce staff costs to less than 60 per cent of its budget, he added.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.