QM_UCU
@qmucu.bsky.social
Local University & College Union branch at Queen Mary University of London. || Account checked only part-time; allow time for responses or reach us via email. https://qmucu.org/
Pinned
QM_UCU
@qmucu.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Quick digest of what's happening
⭐️ reorganisation: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
⭐️ management break-in in union office: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
⭐️ punitive deductions: qmucu.org/2023/09/12/l...
⭐️ legal challenge to deductions: qmucu.org/working-grou...
⭐️ news: qmucu.org/itn/ pic.x.com/Skb3gbpm86
⭐️ reorganisation: qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
⭐️ management break-in in union office: docs.google.com/document/d/e...
⭐️ punitive deductions: qmucu.org/2023/09/12/l...
⭐️ legal challenge to deductions: qmucu.org/working-grou...
⭐️ news: qmucu.org/itn/ pic.x.com/Skb3gbpm86
Reposted by QM_UCU
'In additional comments in the report, committee member and independent senator David Pocock said he had become concerned about universities’ growing “reliance on consultants” and the associated costs.'
Sounding familiar yet? 3/3
Sounding familiar yet? 3/3
December 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
'In additional comments in the report, committee member and independent senator David Pocock said he had become concerned about universities’ growing “reliance on consultants” and the associated costs.'
Sounding familiar yet? 3/3
Sounding familiar yet? 3/3
Reposted by QM_UCU
'The report said the inquiry had heard “from a substantial cohort of academic staff and students outlining their experience that centralised decision-making, driven by commercial priorities, has had a detrimental effect on academic influence within universities”.' 2/3
December 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
'The report said the inquiry had heard “from a substantial cohort of academic staff and students outlining their experience that centralised decision-making, driven by commercial priorities, has had a detrimental effect on academic influence within universities”.' 2/3
Reposted by QM_UCU
'All states and territories in Australia should review the legislation underpinning universities “to ensure the primacy of public research and education”, a Senate committee has said.'
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Australian universities ‘must put research and education first’.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-aust...
Australian universities ‘must put research and education first’ - Research Professional News
Senate inquiry into university governance recommends stronger regulatory oversight to tackle staff discontent
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
'All states and territories in Australia should review the legislation underpinning universities “to ensure the primacy of public research and education”, a Senate committee has said.'
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Very relevant to UK. 1/3
Reposted by QM_UCU
@ucu.org.uk @ducu.bsky.social @sheffielducu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social @umucu.bsky.social @qmucu.bsky.social @uswucu.bsky.social @northeastbylines.co.uk @chroniclelive.co.uk
LOCAL BALLOT OPENS TODAY @ucunorthumbria.bsky.social.
VOTE YES-YES TO SAVE PAY AND PENSIONS (and to stop more silly songs like this)...
VOTE YES-YES TO SAVE PAY AND PENSIONS (and to stop more silly songs like this)...
December 15, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Used to say to journalists that Westminster politicians would care once Oxford or Cambridge were affected by the collapse of the sector. But somehow still not.
Complete dereliction of duty.
Complete dereliction of duty.
Cambridge apparently scrapping veterinary education is a very normal thing to happen to one of the best universities in a very normal higher education system in a very normal island #UKHE
December 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Used to say to journalists that Westminster politicians would care once Oxford or Cambridge were affected by the collapse of the sector. But somehow still not.
Complete dereliction of duty.
Complete dereliction of duty.
UUK doesn’t even understand how the Twelve Days of Christmas work. And yet we let them run the sector…
12 days of UUKi Christmas: day 5 🎅
This year, we ran our #IndianStudentsInUK campaign in collaboration with British Council/Study UK.
Supported by NISAU, we developed 30 short videos of Indian graduates of UK universities for members and partners to share on social media.
#12DaysOfUUKiChristmas
This year, we ran our #IndianStudentsInUK campaign in collaboration with British Council/Study UK.
Supported by NISAU, we developed 30 short videos of Indian graduates of UK universities for members and partners to share on social media.
#12DaysOfUUKiChristmas
December 15, 2025 at 8:44 AM
UUK doesn’t even understand how the Twelve Days of Christmas work. And yet we let them run the sector…
Reposted by QM_UCU
Because @qmucu.bsky.social asked nicely and it seems their uni has published their 2024/25 statement already, here is their document: www.finance.qmul.ac.uk/media/financ...
www.finance.qmul.ac.uk
December 13, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Because @qmucu.bsky.social asked nicely and it seems their uni has published their 2024/25 statement already, here is their document: www.finance.qmul.ac.uk/media/financ...
Reposted by QM_UCU
Am in the process of updating this nonsense (github.com/mtwest2718/u...) regarding #UKHE financial measures. Have to deal with GitHub blah blah, but if any @ucu.org.uk branch wants to see KFI figures from 2016/17 through 2023/24, just give me a wave.
Hello! Trying to dig up the helpful datachurning you did but I think that that was in DMs and so might be lost as you unfollowed. Is there any chance you could re-link either here or on our gmail: contact.qmucu?
December 13, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Am in the process of updating this nonsense (github.com/mtwest2718/u...) regarding #UKHE financial measures. Have to deal with GitHub blah blah, but if any @ucu.org.uk branch wants to see KFI figures from 2016/17 through 2023/24, just give me a wave.
Dear journalists, we know the novelty has worn off, but you don’t want the next novelty of this #UKHE crisis leading to the collapse of towns. Ask politicians serious questions, AND KEEP ASKING. Their bland deflections are unacceptble.
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Dear journalists, we know the novelty has worn off, but you don’t want the next novelty of this #UKHE crisis leading to the collapse of towns. Ask politicians serious questions, AND KEEP ASKING. Their bland deflections are unacceptble.
What a way to say “thank you for all the work you did getting this trying term to a good end”: risk of redundancy letters to go into the Christmas break.
Wishing triplet ghost visits upon Essex management. And sending much solidarity to all @ucuessex.bsky.social
Wishing triplet ghost visits upon Essex management. And sending much solidarity to all @ucuessex.bsky.social
Ongoing decimation of British universities part 252:
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
Apx. 1000 academic staff at University of Essex just received formal ‘risk of redundancy’ letters via email.
Please share @ucuessex.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 10:05 PM
What a way to say “thank you for all the work you did getting this trying term to a good end”: risk of redundancy letters to go into the Christmas break.
Wishing triplet ghost visits upon Essex management. And sending much solidarity to all @ucuessex.bsky.social
Wishing triplet ghost visits upon Essex management. And sending much solidarity to all @ucuessex.bsky.social
This @universityofessex.bsky.social, by the way: www.ft.com/content/2cdd....
The university that had been established to transform the region & society, swiftly dropping the programmes for widening participation the moment finances are tight. They were in the middle in 2024, what happened?
The university that had been established to transform the region & society, swiftly dropping the programmes for widening participation the moment finances are tight. They were in the middle in 2024, what happened?
December 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
This @universityofessex.bsky.social, by the way: www.ft.com/content/2cdd....
The university that had been established to transform the region & society, swiftly dropping the programmes for widening participation the moment finances are tight. They were in the middle in 2024, what happened?
The university that had been established to transform the region & society, swiftly dropping the programmes for widening participation the moment finances are tight. They were in the middle in 2024, what happened?
Funny that. Funny that. Because, guess what, the FIRST thing the Principal did when he came in in 2017 was to drastically shrink student bursaries. Our students had to occupy the octagon for weeks on end to get him to reason -- excellent webpage still up.
Almost as if he'll take any excuse?
Almost as if he'll take any excuse?
December 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Funny that. Funny that. Because, guess what, the FIRST thing the Principal did when he came in in 2017 was to drastically shrink student bursaries. Our students had to occupy the octagon for weeks on end to get him to reason -- excellent webpage still up.
Almost as if he'll take any excuse?
Almost as if he'll take any excuse?
Reposted by QM_UCU
This is pulling the ladder up after them - it is SO vital and I came through a route that did precisely this for me. I then went on to a fully funding nurse training that gave me and my daughter enough to live off... Talk about removing ladders from poverty.
it's gutting to see access and widening participation initiatives being binned across the university sector. ELCE here at Bristol, Essex Pathways here. nothing pushes my personal, visceral buttons like the idea of denying academic study to someone whose life it could change
In yet more devastating news, the VC has confirmed her plans to cut 80% of academic staff from Essex Pathways, our foundation year department. This would effectively close down all our existing foundation year programmes through the back door.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
But it's not a done deal yet. Please share urgently.
December 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This is pulling the ladder up after them - it is SO vital and I came through a route that did precisely this for me. I then went on to a fully funding nurse training that gave me and my daughter enough to live off... Talk about removing ladders from poverty.
Charmed by a university's social media actually amplifying the contribution of one of theirs to this (excellent!) piece. Here people have been told off for talking to the FT...
Assistant professor Joshua Brown comments on UK universities’ growing reliance on unregulated agencies—now responsible for two-thirds of overseas student recruitment.
Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/3f496166-4292-46af-b690-114a4d2b3fd0
Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/3f496166-4292-46af-b690-114a4d2b3fd0
The shadow economy behind the international student boom
A lucrative revenue stream for universities has led to an industry of unregulated agents now under scrutiny for making lofty promises
www.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Charmed by a university's social media actually amplifying the contribution of one of theirs to this (excellent!) piece. Here people have been told off for talking to the FT...
Reposted by QM_UCU
Assistant professor Joshua Brown comments on UK universities’ growing reliance on unregulated agencies—now responsible for two-thirds of overseas student recruitment.
Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/3f496166-4292-46af-b690-114a4d2b3fd0
Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/3f496166-4292-46af-b690-114a4d2b3fd0
The shadow economy behind the international student boom
A lucrative revenue stream for universities has led to an industry of unregulated agents now under scrutiny for making lofty promises
www.ft.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Assistant professor Joshua Brown comments on UK universities’ growing reliance on unregulated agencies—now responsible for two-thirds of overseas student recruitment.
Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/3f496166-4292-46af-b690-114a4d2b3fd0
Read more: https://www.ft.com/content/3f496166-4292-46af-b690-114a4d2b3fd0
Reposted by QM_UCU
Two Mill investigations have been followed up by the national press this week. Thanks to @theguardian.com for crediting our reporting on both without needing to be prompted.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
December 8, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Two Mill investigations have been followed up by the national press this week. Thanks to @theguardian.com for crediting our reporting on both without needing to be prompted.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
It’s because of our paying members that we can do impactful journalism like this, which holds local authorities to account.
Reposted by QM_UCU
It feels so so strange, and people are so quiet about this.
Well done to @qmucu.bsky.social for speaking truth about the implosion of the UK HE sector. Too many people are in denial. There are no jobs for us newbies and now they're coming for those fortunate enough to be established. Read this list of the ongoing cut and closures
qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
UK HE shrinking
a live page of all the redundancies and restructures happening across UK Higher Education. Page is updated regularly.
qmucu.org
December 9, 2025 at 9:29 AM
It feels so so strange, and people are so quiet about this.
Reposted by QM_UCU
Apropos of nothing: it is astonishingly clear how badly the marketisation of UK universities has failed. The architects of the fee system have enabled a system where half of institutions are no longer financially viable www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-provider...
December 9, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Apropos of nothing: it is astonishingly clear how badly the marketisation of UK universities has failed. The architects of the fee system have enabled a system where half of institutions are no longer financially viable www.officeforstudents.org.uk/for-provider...
Expensive silence though, as that Freedom of Information request last Autumn showed: uk-highereducation.neocities.org
December 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Expensive silence though, as that Freedom of Information request last Autumn showed: uk-highereducation.neocities.org
Reposted by QM_UCU
Because the most powerful and effective collective action in UK academia is that which unites the Vice Chancellors (UUK, Russel group). No public in-fighting. Clear messages. Silent when necessary.
#inspirational
#inspirational
Always happy to welcome more friends into club-of-demanding-an-end-to-this-mess, but why does every VC see the light only *after* they retired and set aside all power & responsibility?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
'The next Scottish government should “waste no time” in launching a review into how the nation’s post-16 education system is funded, a former vice-chancellor has said.'
The current Westminster government should do so now, the British Academy argues. 1/2
The current Westminster government should do so now, the British Academy argues. 1/2
December 9, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Because the most powerful and effective collective action in UK academia is that which unites the Vice Chancellors (UUK, Russel group). No public in-fighting. Clear messages. Silent when necessary.
#inspirational
#inspirational
Reposted by QM_UCU
Well done to @qmucu.bsky.social for speaking truth about the implosion of the UK HE sector. Too many people are in denial. There are no jobs for us newbies and now they're coming for those fortunate enough to be established. Read this list of the ongoing cut and closures
qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
UK HE shrinking
a live page of all the redundancies and restructures happening across UK Higher Education. Page is updated regularly.
qmucu.org
December 9, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Well done to @qmucu.bsky.social for speaking truth about the implosion of the UK HE sector. Too many people are in denial. There are no jobs for us newbies and now they're coming for those fortunate enough to be established. Read this list of the ongoing cut and closures
qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
Always happy to welcome more friends into club-of-demanding-an-end-to-this-mess, but why does every VC see the light only *after* they retired and set aside all power & responsibility?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
'The next Scottish government should “waste no time” in launching a review into how the nation’s post-16 education system is funded, a former vice-chancellor has said.'
The current Westminster government should do so now, the British Academy argues. 1/2
The current Westminster government should do so now, the British Academy argues. 1/2
Next Scottish government ‘should launch immediate funding review’
Holyrood politicians must look at size and shape of tertiary sector, and consider closer research ties with rest of UK, says Anton Muscatelli
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Always happy to welcome more friends into club-of-demanding-an-end-to-this-mess, but why does every VC see the light only *after* they retired and set aside all power & responsibility?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
What is it in those VC bodies like UUK an UCEA that prevents them from acknowledging reality?
Reposted by QM_UCU
Alt text didn't save there.
Image 1 is a photo of our earners over 100k a year between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, image 2 is a photo comparing our VC's earnings which show her total emoluments increasing to £309k a year despite DMU plummeting in league tables.
Image 1 is a photo of our earners over 100k a year between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, image 2 is a photo comparing our VC's earnings which show her total emoluments increasing to £309k a year despite DMU plummeting in league tables.
December 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Alt text didn't save there.
Image 1 is a photo of our earners over 100k a year between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, image 2 is a photo comparing our VC's earnings which show her total emoluments increasing to £309k a year despite DMU plummeting in league tables.
Image 1 is a photo of our earners over 100k a year between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, image 2 is a photo comparing our VC's earnings which show her total emoluments increasing to £309k a year despite DMU plummeting in league tables.
Reposted by QM_UCU
December 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by QM_UCU
Just a reminder to managers that #CeasefireNOW remains a ucu policy and that, yet again, taking down posters about it is taking down union materials.
@qmul.bsky.social, get your (middle & senior) managers under control, they're not exactly acting within the law.
@qmul.bsky.social, get your (middle & senior) managers under control, they're not exactly acting within the law.
Today (Tuesday 20th February) management ordered security to break into the Queen Mary UCU office behind the Queens Building in order to remove posters expressing solidarity with Palestine.
December 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Just a reminder to managers that #CeasefireNOW remains a ucu policy and that, yet again, taking down posters about it is taking down union materials.
@qmul.bsky.social, get your (middle & senior) managers under control, they're not exactly acting within the law.
@qmul.bsky.social, get your (middle & senior) managers under control, they're not exactly acting within the law.