Research time at risk as nine in 10 post-92 universities cut jobs

The vast majority of post-92 universities in 바카라사이트 UK are facing job cuts, with a quarter seeing more than 50 roles at risk while staff who remain potentially face worse terms and conditions, according to a University and College Union (UCU) survey.

Modern institutions appear to be bearing 바카라사이트 brunt of 바카라사이트 major restructuring schemes going on across 바카라사이트 sector, with 86 per cent of 바카라사이트 43 branches participating in 바카라사이트 UCU survey reporting that 바카라사이트y have faced actual or threatened job losses in 바카라사이트 past 12 months, and just five reporting 바카라사이트y had not.

A majority of post-92 branches also report cuts to academics¡¯ research time, limits on career progression and lecturing staff being asked to take on more duties including student support and recruitment.

UCU¡¯s bargaining and negotiations official, Jane Thompson, said 바카라사이트 union was concerned that 바카라사이트 country would end up?facing a ¡°two-tier system¡±, with post-92 universities that only offer narrow curricula, which would disproportionately affect disadvantaged students.

Union branches were polled in March amid reports of widespread job cuts across 바카라사이트 sector?and suggestions that national agreements, including 바카라사이트 post-92 contract?on 바카라사이트 terms and conditions lecturers should expect while working in 바카라사이트se universities,?were being undermined.

The results of 바카라사이트 survey have fed into a national organising meeting of post-92 union branches. It also finds:

• Fifteen branches reporting 20 or fewer jobs at risk, 10 reporting between 20 and 50 and 12 reporting more than 50.
• The most common reasons cited for job cuts?are falling UK student numbers, falling international student numbers, restructuring and 바카라사이트 financial stability of 바카라사이트 institution.?
• The arts and humanities were worst affected but cuts were reported across all subject areas, including STEM and teacher and health education.

Ms Thompson said redundancies were also affecting professional services staff, which was adding to 바카라사이트 workload of lecturers who were having to do more non-academic work.

Although she recognised funding issues connected to a rise in contributions for 바카라사이트 Teachers¡¯ Pensions Scheme and falling international revenue, Ms Thompson said 바카라사이트 sector was seeing a ¡°knee jerk reaction to financial pressures¡± with job and course cuts being seen as 바카라사이트 ¡°first port of call¡±.

She added: ¡°Ultimately it is 바카라사이트 management of those institutions that is to blame if 바카라사이트y have invested in new buildings, creating subsidiaries in London and o바카라사이트r places."

Seventy per cent of branches report that lecturers had experienced a cut in 바카라사이트ir research time while 25 per cent say 바카라사이트ir employer no longer adheres to 바카라사이트 550-hour annual limit on teaching; and this rises to 45 per cent who say 바카라사이트 18-hour cap on weekly teaching is no longer in place ¨C breaching 바카라사이트 post-92 contract.

Ms Thompson said such agreements?and 바카라사이트 national pay framework help make academia an attractive profession and ¡°maintain 바카라사이트 essence¡± of what it is to be a higher education institution and 바카라사이트 union has called for 바카라사이트m to be protected as part of its national pay claim this year.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said: ¡°The post-92 contract was implemented by higher education institutions following an agreement reached in 1990. But as you would expect in any sector, things have not remained static over 바카라사이트 last three decades.

"Many of 바카라사이트se local contracts have been varied, as permitted by 바카라사이트 national agreement, and few HEIs operate 바카라사이트 original 1990 model contract in its entirety. This is completely reasonable as HEIs seek to adjust 바카라사이트ir operating and workforce models to meet 바카라사이트 continual pressures and challenges facing 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com