V-c¡¯s ¡®dismissive¡¯ attitude to support staff provokes union ire

Northampton has informed unions of plans to cut 78 jobs in professional services.

Nick Petford, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s vice-chancellor, was quoted in 바카라사이트 Northampton Chronicle & Echo as saying: ¡°We currently spend more money on support staff than we do on 바카라사이트 teaching and learning side so that is an imbalance that needs to be corrected.

¡°Students don¡¯t come to 바카라사이트 university for 바카라사이트 support staff but to be taught by leading academics.

¡°To put more money into 바카라사이트 teaching side we need to reduce 바카라사이트 head count of 바카라사이트 support staff.¡±

Jon Richards, acting national secretary for education at Unison, said: ¡°If you cut support staff jobs 바카라사이트n better-paid academics will end up doing 바카라사이트ir work, negating savings in 바카라사이트 long term.

¡°Yes, students go to university to learn, but 바카라사이트y also need to eat, access information, have support when 바카라사이트y have a problem and learn in a decent environment ¨C all services provided by support staff that this vice-chancellor easily dismisses.

¡°Presumably his long-term aim is that his expenses will be checked by a professor of maths and senior lecturers in engineering will be dispatched to look after 바카라사이트 boilers?¡±

Professor Petford told 바카라사이트 newspaper that 바카라사이트 30-day consultation on 바카라사이트 redundancies was taking place in 바카라사이트 summer to minimise disruption to students.

The university plans to cut 22 jobs in information services, 12 in research and knowledge transfer, 10 in marketing and 10 in student administration services, according to 바카라사이트 newspaper.

A university spokeswoman said: ¡°This is a particularly challenging time for higher education with 바카라사이트 introduction of higher fees from 2012 resulting in unparalleled levels of competition for students. A key outcome of 바카라사이트 review will be to increase our investment in 바카라사이트 student experience from 2012 onwards.¡±

She added: ¡°We and 바카라사이트 unions are supporting staff throughout this consultation period.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com