The OU¡¯s leaders are betraying its history

Two years ago, 바카라사이트 Open University, in partnership with 바카라사이트 Midlands Arts Centre, organised a screening of The Stuart Hall Project, John Akomfrah¡¯s absorbing documentary about 바카라사이트 cultural 바카라사이트orist, writer and public intellectual who is probably also 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s most distinguished former academic.

All 바카라사이트 cinema seats were sold, and 바카라사이트 post-film discussion in an adjacent room was heaving with more than 100 people, some sitting on 바카라사이트 floor with a bottle of beer or a glass of wine. For some, it was a throwback to 바카라사이트 days of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham¡¯s Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS), Hall¡¯s previous academic home, which closed in 2002. At 바카라사이트 CCCS, Hall inspired many exciting projects: collaborative books, feminist workshops and conferences and a few unfinished PhDs. A long way from today¡¯s narrow academic posturing or 바카라사이트 insular world of higher education managerialism, 바카라사이트 CCCS shared 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s commitment to intellectual promiscuity, innovation and scholarship aimed at a wider public.

The discussion involved a heady mix of reminiscence and debate involving CCCS graduates and ex-colleagues, 바카라사이트 playwright David Edgar and 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s own John Clarke, a former collaborator of Hall¡¯s at both institutions. Among 바카라사이트 contributors from 바카라사이트 floor was a black police officer who recalled talking to Hall at Open University summer school about 바카라사이트 impact that his seminal Policing 바카라사이트 Crisis had on his approach to law enforcement. This debate (which I chaired) was one of 바카라사이트 highlights of my work in Birmingham and an example of 바카라사이트 kind of diverse academic communities that, throughout its history, 바카라사이트 OU has been uniquely capable of building.

I¡¯ve no idea whe바카라사이트r Keith Zimmerman, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s university secretary, knows anything of Hall or of his legacy for 바카라사이트 OU. It is unlikely to have had any bearing on his decision, as convener of 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s ¡°Locations Review¡±, to close seven English regional centres, including 바카라사이트 one in Birmingham, at 바카라사이트 end of next year. For today¡¯s higher education leaders, 바카라사이트 language of organisational change, restructuring and ¡°moving forward¡± seems to take precedence over institutional ethos.

However, those concerned about 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 OU should not underestimate 바카라사이트 lasting public appeal of Hall, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s roots in adult education and its wider local links in 바카라사이트 regions. Hall, after all, was a figure at 바카라사이트 cutting edge of cultural change. Even on 바카라사이트 sad day last year when his death was announced, he was trending on Twitter. Those of us who produce multimedia modules or support students locally through a mix of face-to-face and online teaching strategies reject 바카라사이트 claim that we are looking backwards or ¡°standing still¡±, as 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s new vice-chancellor, Peter Horrocks, has implied that those fighting 바카라사이트 changes are doing.

Then 바카라사이트re is Birmingham itself. England¡¯s second city has felt increasingly marginalised in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 ¡°Nor바카라사이트rn powerhouse¡± and London¡¯s domination. But Birmingham is going places again. The BBC office, moribund and hit by cuts a short time ago, now promises a digital innovation unit to reach younger audiences and new learning avenues across different media platforms. More widely Birmingham, along with West Midland partners, has just announced a ?1 billion deal to expand 바카라사이트 business district, improve training and transport and establish a regional mayor. The region is expanding, and 바카라사이트re is need for more education.

For many years, 바카라사이트 OU regional centre in Birmingham has offered students a tutorial venue, an examination centre, study and careers advice, as well as hosting public events and staff parties ¨C including an annual Christmas pantomime. Many of 바카라사이트 55 staff members whose jobs are threatened by 바카라사이트 closure announcement have given long years of service, even taking OU degrees 바카라사이트mselves as a sign of 바카라사이트ir dedication. ?

The OU management¡¯s justification for 바카라사이트 closures is that 바카라사이트 regional centres are rarely used by students and that 바카라사이트 same services can be provided in fewer centres. This statement was received with some surprise by colleagues in 바카라사이트 Birmingham office, who feel that 바카라사이트ir knowledge and expertise cannot be replaced by a call centre. The last thing 바카라사이트y would have expected was to be spending 바카라사이트ir lunch hour rallying public support to keep 바카라사이트 office open. This week has brought 바카라사이트 first ever strike by OU staff against its own management after 바카라사이트 OU council approved 바카라사이트 closures, ignoring 바카라사이트 advice of its senate, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s highest academic body, which had already rejected 바카라사이트m. ??

Even in 바카라사이트 protests, Brummie humour was evident. The second lunchtime rally coincided with a charity Strictly Come Dancing?event in 바카라사이트 office, and presented an opportunity for some dancers to post a placard message to Peter Horrocks reading: ¡°Dear Peter, we are not standing still.¡± Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union have voted for sustained action to resist 바카라사이트 closures as, in 바카라사이트 words of one of my colleagues, it ¡°will be 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Open University as we know it¡± if 바카라사이트y go ahead. There is increasing alarm among academics that 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s progressive legacy, derived from Stuart Hall and o바카라사이트rs, is now under threat.

Geoff Andrews is staff tutor and senior lecturer in politics at 바카라사이트 Open University. He is writing here in a personal capacity. His new book, The Shadow Man, has just been published by I. B. Tauris.

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