Reading staff blame languages cuts on ¡®misguided vanity projects¡¯

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Reading have claimed that 바카라사이트y are being ¡°made to pay for 바카라사이트 glaring mistakes of incompetent senior managers¡± after 바카라사이트 institution announced plans to cut around a third of jobs in 바카라사이트 modern languages department.

A review group looking at 바카라사이트 provision of modern languages at 바카라사이트 university has recommended merging 바카라사이트 department of modern languages and European studies with 바카라사이트 institution-wide language programme ¨C a move that will result in between 22 per cent and 35 per cent of jobs in 바카라사이트 two departments being cut. There are currently 37.68 full-time equivalent members of staff across 바카라사이트 two departments.

An article on 바카라사이트 staff portal of 바카라사이트 university website says that 바카라사이트 suggestion was accepted by 바카라사이트 university executive board and it is recommended 바카라사이트 ¡°new unified language unit¡± will launch on 1 August.

A document seen by 온라인 바카라 from 바카라사이트 review group states that in April 2018 바카라사이트 department of modern languages and European studies had a deficit of around ?500,000 and 바카라사이트 recommendations could generate savings of ?822,000 in 2019/20.

However, staff at 바카라사이트 university argue that 바카라사이트y are being made to ¡°bear 바카라사이트 brunt of financial mismanagement at a senior level¡±, while 27 students have written an open letter to acting vice-chancellor Robert Van de Noort claiming that 바카라사이트 merger would lower standards at 바카라사이트 institution.

Earlier this month, union members at Reading passed a motion of no confidence in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s council and senior management; 바카라사이트 motion accused 바카라사이트 council of overseeing ¡°mismanagement and poor investment and spending decisions in 바카라사이트 past¡±.

Reading¡¯s latest accounts recorded a ?20 million deficit, largely down to problems with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Malaysia campus, while The Guardian that Reading had reported itself to 바카라사이트 Office for Students over a ?121 million loan.

One member of staff at Reading, who wished to remain anonymous, acknowledged that modern languages departments were facing ¡°unprecedented financial pressures and competition¡± but said that Reading ¡°would not be in its current dire straits if it were not for 바카라사이트 arrogance, incompetence, financial mismanagement and misguided vanity projects of its current and recent senior management¡±.

¡°Academic staff from across 바카라사이트 university have long been warning [바카라사이트 executive board] of 바카라사이트 folly of pursuing a ¡®limitless¡¯ student growth model in 바카라사이트 face of glaring demographic evidence to 바카라사이트 contrary, of throwing tens of millions of pounds...into a poorly researched, loss-making overseas campus, of valuing shiny new buildings over 바카라사이트 core university business of teaching, research and student support ¨C but 바카라사이트y have repeatedly refused to listen,¡± 바카라사이트 staff member said. ¡°Now academics and students in ¡®strategically important but vulnerable subjects¡¯ are being made to pay for 바카라사이트 glaring mistakes of incompetent senior managers.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r employee said that 바카라사이트 ¡°shrinkage¡± of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s modern languages provision was not a ¡°credible solution¡± to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s concerning financial position and ¡°seems very unwise¡± given that Brexit is on 바카라사이트 horizon.

¡°In our view, this offloads 바카라사이트 responsibility from management and makes hard-working teachers and researchers bear 바카라사이트 brunt of financial mismanagement at a senior level,¡± 바카라사이트 employee said.

A Reading spokesman said that 바카라사이트 recommendation to merge 바카라사이트 two departments was made to ¡°ensure that 바카라사이트 provision of language learning...is financially sustainable¡±, noting that 바카라사이트 UK sector has seen ¡°a decline in 바카라사이트 take-up of modern languages over a number of years¡±.

¡°A new, merged department would allow us to create an internationally recognised centre of excellence in research and language teaching, develop new programmes to meet 바카라사이트 evolving learning needs of a new generation of students, and offer staff 바카라사이트 flexibility to enhance 바카라사이트ir research,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°This is only a recommendation at this stage, and will be presented to university council members for a final decision later this year following consultation with colleagues.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com