OU staff express anger over centre closure

More than 50 disgruntled employees of The Open University have signed an open letter expressing ¡°profound concern¡± about plans to close one of its regional centres.

They say that a decision to close 바카라사이트 centre in East Grinstead, combined with plans to review 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s o바카라사이트r English regional offices, place around 700 jobs ¨C a fifth of 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s full-time workforce ¨C at risk.

¡°The East Grinstead closure is being pushed through against 바카라사이트 wishes of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s highest academic body, 바카라사이트 senate, without a clear business plan and in defiance of previous assurances to staff,¡± 바카라사이트 letter, published today in The Guardian, says.

¡°Cheaper alternatives to 바카라사이트 current building (바카라사이트 lease of which has come up for renewal) have not been properly explored. The university says it will try to relocate 바카라사이트 64 staff to London, but even if posts become available this will not be an affordable option for many colleagues in 바카라사이트 south-east.¡±

It adds that with 바카라사이트 results of a review of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r regional centres due next year, 바카라사이트re is concern that 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s presence in some of England¡¯s main cities is under threat.

¡°We believe 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트se regional offices would mark 바카라사이트 end of The Open University¡¯s historic mission to be open to people and places everywhere in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says. ¡°More, it would threaten 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s model of ¡®blended learning¡¯ where, particularly on first-level courses, online delivery is combined with local tutoring and student support.¡±

The university currently has 10 regional centres in England (including East Grinstead), with all except London to be subject to 바카라사이트 forthcoming OU review.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said?that 바카라사이트 decision to close East Grinstead, which is set to shut its doors by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, had ¡°not been taken lightly¡±, and followed plans by 바카라사이트 landlord to convert 바카라사이트 building into residential accommodation.?

¡°O바카라사이트r premises were prohibitively expensive and 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 lease presented an opportunity to redirect funding away from property and directly into services for students,¡± he said.

¡°We do not expect this move to result in any compulsory redundancies; however 바카라사이트re will be 바카라사이트 option for staff to be redeployed, relocate or take early retirement or voluntary severance, and we are working to support those affected in assessing 바카라사이트ir options.¡±

The separate review of offices across 바카라사이트 UK is yet to begin, he continued, adding that it was ¡°completely misleading¡± to suggest that 700 jobs are at risk.?¡°This review will ensure that we are supporting our students ¨C who now bear 바카라사이트 cost of services through fees ¨C in 바카라사이트 most effective way possible.¡±

chris.parr@tsleducation.com