UCU University of Kent branch

When will the UK government wake up to the wholesale destruction of HE that's happening?
This affects towns and cites across the UK, our businesses, the NHS, schools, young people, our global standing, everything! Higher Education, Universities, contribute over £265 BILLION to the economy.

Oh no, please sign. My PhD was within the same school and so many talented people in this group. We're losing too much in this crisis and need governments to step up.

UK university staff: a final chance to tell us your feelings about the redundancy wave Whether you have direct experience of redundancies or not, and whatever your role is (or was) in the university, we are still keen to hear your views

UK university staff: have you feared for your job at any point during the past two years? How confident are you that redundancies are less likely this year than they were last year? This is your last chance to let us know in our UK Redundancy Survey. @timeshighered.bsky.social

Clearly a hot topic as we've been discussing this subject with Jo Grady just now!

And on that final note, we're finished.
If you're on campus there is now a drinks and nibbles reception - do join and carry on the conversations.

One key point from Jo Grady - in Europe student funding comes from 3 sources: the student, the government, and employers.
In the UK employers are missing.
Employers pay for apprenceships but not for HE.
The UK needs to rethink funding.

Jo Grady's response - it's a difficult subject to tackle because it's complicated, and the UCU need to continue to develop plans around this. The narrative being pushed is that Uni is a waste of money - the UCU continues to counter that.

Question now about student loans and the cap. Does the UCU have any ideas on how to make the issue more widely known to the general public?

Jo Grady - yes! UCU are involved in a new parliamentary group about HE and lots of MPs are in favour of changing how universities are governed and funded.

Question from our branch chairperson - Charlie - can the UCU nationally and regionally help us to get more MPs on board with supporting us on improving governance and the ongoing struggle in UKHE?

Jo Grady's response is local members who have the institutional historical knowledge and expertise may be able to provide help locally.
But also, nationally the UCU recognises the governance problem UK-wide in HE and will help to push for review.

Question now about issues on the university governance structure. What does the UCU suggest to help our branch push for better governance in the new structure?

Now open to questions from members both in the room and online.

First question - fears about the forthcoming merger with Greenwich and our USS pensions.

Also flagging the Together Against the Far Right march in London next month - we are planning to send as many members as we can (it was in the recent newsletter).
28th March - join us if you can!

Workloads - a particularly big issue locally at Kent. Jo Grady recommends us pulling together some case studies of those people affected most by the ongoing shrinking of staff numbers at Kent.

'I wouldn't be looking to move anyone out of the USS' Jo Grady on pensions - a subject our members at Kent who are going into a merger with Greenwich, are concerned about.

Jo Grady has just talked about the announcement of the Kent/Greenwich merger back in October and the UCU's response. She has apologised and said that the UCU got it wrong that morning when there was so little information around.
👍

Don't forget - Jo Grady UCU General Secretary is meeting with us and speaking RIGHT NOW on campus (and online too).

Check your emails - the invitation is there.

I’m not at a Russell Group university but the pattern is the same; fewer professional services and academic staff; lower pay and wise conditions, but more and more top earners on ever-higher salaries. It’s just pillage.

Top earners increase at Russell Group universities despite cuts About 9,400 staff paid at least £100,000 a year across research-intensive institutions, analysis of financial accounts shows

'Roughly a third of the group’s members posted deficits last year. The University of Nottingham, which recorded a loss of over £85 million, increased its number of top earners significantly from 207 to 294. And there were 185 at the cash-strapped Cardiff University.'

Don't forget today UCU General Secretary Jo Grady is visiting our Canterbury campus. She'll be talking to members this afternoon and there's a drinks reception afterwards.
Check your emails for further details.

⏳ On a fixed-term contract? 4+ years at UoB? You're entitled to apply for permanent status. (Not that HR will tell you this) #EndCasualisation

Can we call Presto a system? I mean ... we do call it various things but they're generally muttered under the breath as we notice another appointment made for us while our Outlook calendar shows we're already busy....

ALSO - if you missed out on your childhood measles vaccine and haven't had measles, you can get *free* MMR vaccination from your GP! (whether as an older child, teenager or adult).

I got my MMR about 10 years ago!

www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

Stirling University staff vote in favour of strike action Lecturers will also consider action short of strike, such as a marking boycott.

www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/5433... #StopTheCuts #SaveHE @stirlingucu.bsky.social

Sending support from Kent!
The South East coastal regions need universities.

Here at Kent we're halfway through the new 3 term year, and halfway through the Spring term.
On the upside the days are getting longer. On the downside problems with multiple calendars persist.
Look out for the email from us asking you to log *any* problems you're having with the new systems.

*End of right to take international students beyond elite c.10, 12 unis;
*Higher international fees and tighter criteria;
*Constant rhetorical attack on unis and vilification of unlucky individuals;
*Acquiescence or active assistance of most of the sector. 🤷‍♂️ (3/3)

*Big cuts to other Research Councils, esp ESRC;
*Restriction of REF and QR funding to say 'top' 10 HEIs;
*Post-92s hugely downsized, merged with FE for skills
*No more govt funding for non-STEM PhDs;
*Use of OfS to stifle dissent;
*Possible teaching inspection to use funding to end 'woke'... (2/3)

I'm *guessing* (because totally unclear) that a Reform UK govt would mean, for unis in England:
*No more Student Loans access for Arts and Hums outside Oxbridge, UCL, Durham, Exeter, handful of others
*V limited Social Science undergrad loans
*No more Arts and Humanities Research Council (1/3)