by Becca Bashford | Feb 19, 2021 | Academic freedom, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Free speech, Government, In the News, Marketisation, National Union of Students, News round-up, Opinion, Racism, Scotland, Uncategorized, University governance
The “free-speech debate” has intensified after the government announced it would introduce a ‘Free Speech Champion’ for higher education who will have the powers to fine universities or student unions that restrict free speech. The announcement...
by Becca Bashford | Dec 11, 2020 | A-levels, Casual staff, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Free speech, Further education, Government, In the News, Marketisation, News round-up, Opinion, Racism, Scotland, Uncategorized
An FOI request made by Times Higher Education has revealed that thousands of university staff have been made redundant since the coronavirus pandemic hit. Meanwhile, students across the country have planned the biggest rent strike in decades with over 20 strikes...
by Becca Bashford | Oct 30, 2020 | CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Employability, Further education, Government, In the News, Marketisation, National Union of Students, News round-up, Opinion, REF, Scotland, Uncategorized, Wales
UCU have called for a judicial review of the government’s decision to ignore calls from its own Sage committee to move all non-essential teaching online and instead reopen campuses for face-to-face teaching. Sage advised the government that coronavirus outbreaks...
by Becca Bashford | Sep 18, 2020 | Academic freedom, Casual staff, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Free speech, Government, In the News, Marketisation, News round-up, Opinion, Scotland, Uncategorized, Universities UK
Once again, the return of staff and students to university campuses has dominated Higher Education news. UCU insist that the risks of spreading Covid-19 is still far too high, especially without proper Track and Trace and testing protocols in place. Meanwhile, the DfE...
by Becca Bashford | Sep 4, 2020 | A-levels, Covid-19, Further education, Government, In the News, Marketisation, News round-up, Ofqual, Opinion, Scotland, Uncategorized
As the government scrambles to save face after the A-levels fiasco, universities are preparing to reopen their campuses to staff and students. UCU have called on the government to halt in-person teaching completely, warning that the mass movement of over a million...
by Becca Bashford | Jul 10, 2020 | Admissions, Boris Johnson, Casual staff, Covid-19, Employability, Further education, Government, Humanities, In the News, Marketisation, News round-up, Opinion, REF, Scotland, Uncategorized
Ucas recently announced that UK universities had received a record number of applications over the lockdown period, despite growing concerns about the impacts of coronavirus on the higher education sector. Many universities are pushing ahead with devastating cuts, and...