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The cynicism driving cuts in English

Published: 27th January, 2021

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The proposed cuts to English at the University of Leicester have been universally condemned worldwide, with hundreds of distinguished scholars warning of reputational damage to the University and the ways in which the student experience will be impoverished. Some of the staff at risk of redundancy unpick the inconsistencies in the cynical thinking that is…

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Leicester UCU on Radio Leicester to discuss the staff cuts

Published: 27th January, 2021

Our Communications Officer, David Harvie, was invited to explain the outrage felt by staff over the impending staff cuts. (Available directly on the BBC Sounds website: 01h 06m 45s in https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p093s627)

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Redundancies comment #4 – Bad (Neuroscience, Psychology) Behaviour

Published: 26th January, 2021

It’s taken us a while to get our heads round what the University’s shaping for excellent redundancies plans might mean for NPB (Dept of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour) because, well… let’s see… We’ve had questions regarding (external consultant) DataHE’s projections of student recruitment figures throughout, but didn’t expect to be asking how on earth substantial projected EXPANSION of Neuroscience…

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Strong branch motions against redundancy, lack of confidence in University leadership, and support for staff involved in decolonising the curriculum

Published: 26th January, 2021

The following 3 motions were overwhelmingly supported by members in an extremely well attended Emergency Committee Meeting on 25th January 2021. Motion 1 University of Leicester UCU opposes all compulsory redundancies currently being proposed by the university’s Executive Board.​ This EGM calls upon the university leadership team to give a written guarantee, by 1st February…

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First statement on threatened compulsory redundancies

Published: 25th January, 2021

Image of Leicester UCU banner. The text says "Leicester UCU – in excellent shape"

On date 18 January – the first day of second semester teaching and also ‘Blue Monday’ – senior managers at the University of Leicester wrote to 145 members of staff informing them that their jobs were at risk of redundancy. Managers are calling their plans Shaping for Excellence.The affected staff are in five academic departments…

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