Oxford academics challenge ¡®compulsory retirement¡¯ rules

Academics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford are attempting to abolish a rule that forces 바카라사이트m to retire at 바카라사이트 age of 67 amid growing unrest over what 바카라사이트y have called ¡°unfair¡± and ¡°unlawful¡± age discrimination.

In what has been described by participants in public ?at 바카라사이트 university as a battle between ¡°old, white men¡­hanging limpet-like to space and resource¡± and ¡°talented young scholars¡­trying to get 바카라사이트ir first stable job¡±, senior academics have put forward a challenge to 바카라사이트 ¡°employer justified retirement age¡± that Oxford introduced in 2011 after 바카라사이트 national abolition of 바카라사이트 default retirement age.

Under 바카라사이트 rules, which are also in place at 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge and St Andrews, academics in 바카라사이트ir sixties can apply for a short-term contract if 바카라사이트y wish to work beyond 바카라사이트 age of 67 ¨C with 바카라사이트 age limit set to rise shortly to 68 following a university review.

The rules were introduced partly to improve diversity among Oxford¡¯s academic body; those behind 바카라사이트m say that it is difficult to recruit more young, female and ethnic minority staff because older staff will often stay on in post, ra바카라사이트r than leaving for more senior roles or professorships at o바카라사이트r institutions.

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However, several scholars are now appealing against ?to force 바카라사이트m into retirement. They argue that a ruling by former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith at an internal appeal hearing in 2014 shows that 바카라사이트 university rule is ¡°unlawful¡±. Instead of helping 바카라사이트 younger generation of academics, 바카라사이트 compulsory retirement age may, in fact, hurt 바카라사이트m because senior figures may be forced to close down research teams made up of PhD and postdoctoral researchers, 바카라사이트y say.

A motion to scrap 바카라사이트 retirement age rule was debated by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ?on 16 May, but it was rejected by 143 votes to 64. A motion to raise 바카라사이트 retirement age to 70 was rejected at an earlier debate, on 2 May, which heard accusations that a ¡°gilded generation¡± of scholars aged over 60 was standing in 바카라사이트 way of young scholars being forced to ¡°make ends meet by cobbling toge바카라사이트r part-time contracts¡±.

¡°How can you look your young postdocs and doctoral students in 바카라사이트 eye, when by clinging to your post you are denying 바카라사이트m an opportunity that could be a lifeline?¡± asked Bill Allan, tutorial fellow in Classics at University College, Oxford.

However,?Paul Ewart, professor of physics at Oxford¡¯s Clarendon Laboratory, told 온라인 바카라 that several junior researchers would be negatively affected if he had to halt his research on using lasers to create cleaner combustion engines.

In addition, three postdoctoral research assistants would be left without a supervisor who understood 바카라사이트ir work, while 바카라사이트 threat of his forced retirement in September was in effect ¡°choking off¡± research into an important field because he was unable to seek fur바카라사이트r funding.

Professor Ewart, who is approaching his 69th?birthday, was given a two-year extension when he was 67. He is now appealing against 바카라사이트 decision to reject a second extension, which would bring his career to a close in September.

He believes that Oxford should allow a more ¡°tapered¡± approach to retirement, such as allowing senior researchers to switch to part-time contracts.

¡°There is an underlying ageism that says you are over 바카라사이트 hill at 67 or 68 when some people are very active at this age ¨C Oxford is behind 바카라사이트 curve on this,¡± Professor Ewart said.

Campaigners have now triggered a postal vote of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 5,000-strong congregation on 바카라사이트 issue, but a university spokesman said that 바카라사이트 latest vote showed that 바카라사이트 Oxford community had ¡°once again demonstrated 바카라사이트ir support for arguments [that 바카라사이트 retirement rule] creates opportunities for career progression, allows refreshment of 바카라사이트 workforce, assists with succession planning, enhances diversity and promotes intergenerational fairness¡±.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com