This is a huge, violent sectoral downsizing. And it includes me because today is my last day of work at Brunel, following taking voluntary redundancy as part of the closures announced last Autumn. Fortunately, Arts & Humanities has now been taken 'out of scope' but there will be compulsory (1/-) - ThreadSky

thehubble101.bsky.social • 32 days ago

This is a huge, violent sectoral downsizing. And it includes me because today is my last day of work at Brunel, following taking voluntary redundancy as part of the closures announced last Autumn. Fortunately, Arts & Humanities has now been taken 'out of scope' but there will be compulsory (1/-)

Reposted from Glen O'Hara

Universities announcing job losses and/ or course closures in just the last two weeks:
*Cardiff
*University of the Creative Arts
*Dundee
*Durham
*Kent
*Lancaster
*Newcastle
*Open University
*Reading
*University of the West of England

Comments

thebuell.bsky.social•32 days ago

They're downsizing because lots of well heeled international students don't want to come here any more

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

That is definitely a very significant factor in the immediate crisis - something like a 35% drop in international students coming to the UK. But the sector was already in trouble and a number of universities were already cutting staff in the last couple of years before this.

thebuell.bsky.social•32 days ago

There's no more money in the kitty due to Brexit. We've already lost £100B thanks to the bastard Tories.

kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social•32 days ago

Solidarity. I hope your life post HE is full of joy and the things that make you happy.

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

Thanks! I hope all goes really well for you too post HE and in your new job.

kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social•32 days ago

I wish I didn’t feel so sad. It’s a wonderful charity and I’m very glad to have the job after months of worrying. I hope the grief will ease. Thank you for your good wishes x

danhartland.bsky.social•32 days ago

Solidarity.

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

Thanks, Dan.

darthj.uno•32 days ago

So sorry to hear this Nick!

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

... redundancies in other subject areas. Brunel UCU is currently balloting on industrial action. Solidarity to all UK academics and other university employees currently facing this situation. Although I was planning to keep working for at least a few more years, it makes kind of sense to go (2/-)

vjctorianist.bsky.social•32 days ago

I'm so sorry Nick!

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

... now. Because of chronic fatigue since COVID in 2020, I have reduced hours twice in last few years and was now mostly working from home. Therefore it is not an abrupt wrench to leave. It's not going to be a massive drop in income because I've already done that. I'll also keep an hon prof ...(3/-)

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

... affiliation and the email address (well, once they've updated the system accordingly). So, life will carry on in exactly the same way on Monday with proofs (of The 1920s: A Decade of Modern British Fiction) and other writing projects currently on the go. But I feel for people who will be (4/-)

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

...affected worse and have careers brutally truncated. Also, I believed in higher education and its expansion as a public good and to see that threatened is a bitter pill to take. This is an ideological attack and not just financial circumstances. There will be more to be said. (5/5)

andrewb3.bsky.social•32 days ago

Sorry to read this, so can l just say good luck for the future.

bexxi.bsky.social•32 days ago

So sorry it’s come to this. Thank you for speaking out in such a dignified way. I wish you contentment and success in your future endeavours.

thehubble101.bsky.social•32 days ago

Thanks!

meganfaragher.bsky.social•30 days ago

I’m so sorry to hear this, Nick.

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