by Becca Bashford | Mar 5, 2021 | Academic freedom, Casual staff, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Erasmus, Erasmus+, Free speech, Further education, Government, In the News, Marketisation, National Union of Students, News round-up, Opinion, Pensions, Uncategorized, University governance
As the government prepares to gradually ease Covid-19 restrictions, with the hope of returning ‘to normal life’ by late June, university staff and students have been left wondering when, or if, they will be expected to resume face-to-face teaching and...
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 | Feb 5, 2021 | Admissions, Casual staff, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Employability, Further education, Government, Humanities, In the News, Marketisation, News round-up, Opinion, Uncategorized, University governance
The government has announced a £50 million hardship fund for students who have been financially impacted by the pandemic. However, some feel more could be done to help students, with a group of vice-chancellors calling on the government to go further and waive student...
by Becca Bashford | Nov 27, 2020 | Casual staff, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Employability, Government, In the News, Marketisation, News round-up, Office for Students, Opinion, REF, Uncategorized, Universities UK, University governance
Sexual abuse at English and Welsh universities has been described as a “public scandal” after a report revealed that universities are systematically failing to address instances of assault and harassment, while another report commissioned by Universities...
by Becca Bashford | Oct 16, 2020 | Academic freedom, Boris Johnson, Casual staff, CDBU Updates, Covid-19, Government, In the News, Marketisation, National Union of Students, News round-up, Opinion, Uncategorized, University governance
As Covid cases across the UK rise exponentially, universities have quickly become virus hotspots. Students forced into quarantine have reported feeling “abandoned” by their universities, raising concerns about the mental health crisis that might be...
by Becca Bashford | Jul 31, 2020 | Academic freedom, Covid-19, Free speech, Government, In the News, Marketisation, Opinion, Uncategorized, University governance
Words by Liz Morrish, independent scholar. One thing governments have learned over the last 30 years is not to let a disaster go to waste. In the guise of offering a survival strategy for universities in the pandemic, the Department for Education has issued a...
