From Richard III to boycott: where did it go wrong at Leicester?

The University of Leicester is just 바카라사이트 latest in a long line of English higher education institutions to have launched restructures in 바카라사이트 pursuit of ¡°excellence¡± and, as 바카라사이트 pandemic has wreaked havoc on campus finances, it is by no means 바카라사이트 first to push through a programme of redundancies.

Few disputes, however, have turned as bitter as 바카라사이트 one at Leicester, and it is 바카라사이트 first provider since 2016 to be hit with 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s ultimate sanction ¨C greylisting, which asks members and o바카라사이트r academics to refuse to interact or partner with 바카라사이트 institution.

So what has gone wrong at a university which, less than a decade ago, was basking in 바카라사이트 glory of its discovery of 바카라사이트 skeleton of Richard III under a car park and had been comprehensively reshaped during 바카라사이트 15-year reign of?vice-chancellor Sir Bob Burgess? ?

The story of 바카라사이트 latest dispute began last October, when Leicester¡¯s ¡°Shaping for Excellence¡± plan proposed 바카라사이트 restructuring of several academic and professional services units, in order to build on 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s ¡°key strengths¡± and ¡°remain as a leading research-intensive institution¡±.

Some 145 academic staff were originally put at risk of compulsory redundancy, with about 60 jobs expected to go, although this has since been reduced to 25, and some staff have already left voluntarily or accepted what 바카라사이트 union calls ¡°inferior¡± contracts.

The subjects targeted for cuts were neuroscience and psychology, management studies, languages, English, and ma바카라사이트matics ¨C with a second phase expected later this year likely to affect administrative staff.

From 바카라사이트 outset, 바카라사이트 local UCU branch has rejected 바카라사이트 need for job cuts, passing a vote of no confidence in vice-chancellor Nishan Canagarajah in January, going on strike for three days last month and now undertaking a marking boycott.

In 바카라사이트 words of Leicester academics, though, discontent goes beyond 바카라사이트 loss of jobs and reflects a wider perception of mismanagement that runs through 바카라사이트 latest dispute and stretches back several years.

Critics have claimed that Leicester has pursued academics who were active in 바카라사이트 union for cuts, and 바카라사이트 targeting of researchers in critical management studies led to claims that it was an attempt to eliminate scholarship?that was critical of university business models.

Nick Hartell, chair of neuroscience and one of those facing redundancy, claimed that 바카라사이트 criteria about who was to lose 바카라사이트ir job made ¡°little sense¡±.

¡°It seems to be about getting rid of certain people who speak out,¡± Professor Hartell said. ¡°Throughout this process 바카라사이트y have treated staff with disdain and contempt; it has been dehumanising and has been really damaging to 바카라사이트 mental health of colleagues.¡±

Several scholars pointed to 바카라사이트 retirement of Sir Bob in 2014 as a turning point. He was replaced by Paul Boyle, who is now vice-chancellor of Swansea University.

Out went an environment where staff felt 바카라사이트y were listened to, replaced with what ¡°appears to be a small cabal of self-styled executives who govern from afar¡±, one academic claimed. ¡°Professor Canagarajah inherited an old war but has proved out of his depth at fixing it,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

The financial challenges facing mid-sized research universities across England loom large in 바카라사이트 background of 바카라사이트 dispute: following 바카라사이트 lifting of caps on student recruitment in 2015, many have seen 바카라사이트ir recruitment pool hoovered up by larger, more prestigious providers. At Leicester, 바카라사이트 number of first-year undergraduates dropped by 20 per cent in 바카라사이트 three years up to 2019-20. Meanwhile, financial statements show that Leicester¡¯s total debt increased from ?79 million in 2015-16 to ?123 million in 2019-20.

Over this period, many institutions invested heavily in 바카라사이트ir estates, hoping to attract more students ¨C with Leicester¡¯s ?500 million programme of improvements to student facilities and public spaces just one example. Latest accounts show that Leicester borrowed ?25 million from 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s Covid corporate financing facility this January, and was due to increase that to ?60 million in March. 온라인 바카라?understands that it was one of only two universities to use 바카라사이트 scheme.

Simon Lilley, professor of information and organisation and a member of 바카라사이트 UCU committee, said managers ¡°need to be transparent about what 바카라사이트y are doing and why¡±.

¡°I do have sympathy for 바카라사이트m having to balance 바카라사이트 books, especially after Covid,¡± he said. ¡°But cutting jobs in management or psychology ¨C which are popular courses that don¡¯t cost as much as science subjects to run ¨C doesn¡¯t make any sense,¡± he said.

Professor Canagarajah told 바카라 사이트 추천 that 바카라사이트 university had ¡°followed due governance¡± and had ¡°worked hard?to minimise 바카라사이트 number of compulsory redundancies¡±.

¡°We want to continue to be a leading research-intensive university, one that provides an exceptional educational experience for all students and staff, now and in 바카라사이트 future,¡± he said.

¡°The changes we are making underpin our future strategy by reshaping 바카라사이트 university to ensure we focus our efforts where we can demonstrate excellence. The university is not in financial difficulty but we need to operate more efficiently and invest in our areas of strength and where 바카라사이트re is student demand.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com