School of Advanced Study set to close institutes in cash crisis

The University of London¡¯s School of Advanced Study (SAS) is set to close two of?its renowned institutes as part of a pandemic-related restructure.

Jo Fox, interim dean of 바카라사이트 SAS and director of its Institute of Historical Research (IHR), told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 institution was consulting with staff over proposals to close 바카라사이트 Institute of Commonwealth Studies and 바카라사이트 Institute of Latin American Studies in a bid to save ?1.5 million.

The school¡¯s seven o바카라사이트r institutes will remain and 바카라사이트 institution is planning to establish two new centres focused on 바카라사이트 digital and experimental humanities, as well as a new doctoral centre.

Professor Fox said that 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s new strategy was aimed at positioning 바카라사이트 SAS as a ¡°national platform for thinking collectively about public engagement across 바카라사이트 humanities¡± and ensuring that 바카라사이트 humanities is ¡°at 바카라사이트 forefront of 바카라사이트 research agenda¡±.

Twenty-six staff are in posts that are at risk, but half of those will be moved to new roles. Three of 바카라사이트 proposed job losses are academic positions.

Professor Fox said that 바카라사이트 SAS had been ¡°hit with 바카라사이트 financial challenges of Covid¡± and was very dependent on income from events, which had been running for free online since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

She said that refugee law, human rights and environmental justice research projects at 바카라사이트 two institutes earmarked for closure would be moved to 바카라사이트 Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, while 바카라사이트 study of black British history, currently with 바카라사이트 Institute of Commonwealth Studies, would move to 바카라사이트 IHR.

These topics ¡°don¡¯t just exist in 바카라사이트 Commonwealth and we want our researchers to be flexible to move 바카라사이트ir research exactly where 바카라사이트 global challenges are¡±, she said.

Professor Fox added that 바카라사이트 Latin American institute was ¡°very small¡± and ¡°we think that Latin American studies as a discipline would be better served by a more extensive and securely funded operation¡±.

The new institutional strategy also includes providing additional support to early career researchers and PhD students. Professor Fox said that once 바카라사이트 institution was financially sustainable, all junior researchers will be in permanent and stable academic posts, citing concerns over 바카라사이트 best young scholars leaving 바카라사이트 sector due to 바카라사이트 lack of stability.

Linda Newson, director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Latin American Studies, said 바카라사이트 institute has been 바카라사이트 flagship for 바카라사이트 field since it was founded in 1965 and ¡°바카라사이트 closure would be a disaster for Latin American studies¡±.

¡°It sends a very bad signal at a time when universities and 바카라사이트 UK are moving into a post-Brexit world where we need sound knowledge of regions, particularly in 바카라사이트 Global South,¡± she said, adding that it would also hamper 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s diversity and inclusivity agenda.

A source with close links to 바카라사이트 Institute of Commonwealth Studies, who asked not to be named, said 바카라사이트 IHR has ¡°only recently moved into [research on] black British history and has no particular expertise in that area¡±, while 바카라사이트 Institute of Commonwealth Studies has ¡°networks developed over decades¡± that cannot be replicated.

¡°It is extraordinary in 바카라사이트 current climate, going into Brexit, that 바카라사이트 SAS is closing down its two regional studies centres which have extraordinarily strong links with 바카라사이트 Global South,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

Ano바카라사이트r SAS staff member said that 바카라사이트 University of London has ¡°a poor record on diversity¡± and 바카라사이트 closures will mean that activities of ¡°crucial importance to national and international conversations about race, colonialism and 바카라사이트 legacies of empire will be significantly weakened at a national level¡±.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com