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/
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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
and some of the specific angles get explored in the three articles in this thread: bsky.app/profile/qmuc...
This week saw the publication of 3articles which piece together some of the #UKHE clusterfuck, all fab in catching a particular aspect.
The level of clusterfuckedness, that can't be fully captured in 1 deepdive, shows how this can't be left to individual institutions.
There's governance flip-flops
The level of clusterfuckedness, that can't be fully captured in 1 deepdive, shows how this can't be left to individual institutions.
There's governance flip-flops
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
and some of the specific angles get explored in the three articles in this thread: bsky.app/profile/qmuc...
Reposted by QM_UCU
It's a tricky one to cover in one go, as it's a rather complex combination of underfunding, perverse incentives, questionable managerial priorities, and failures to defend universities on their own merit.
This long-read from July 2024 captures a lot: www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
This long-read from July 2024 captures a lot: www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
How the Tories pushed universities to the brink of disaster
The long read: Over the past 14 years, the Conservative dream of a free market in higher education has collided with the harsh reality of austerity and the cultural resentment of the radical right – d...
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:42 PM
It's a tricky one to cover in one go, as it's a rather complex combination of underfunding, perverse incentives, questionable managerial priorities, and failures to defend universities on their own merit.
This long-read from July 2024 captures a lot: www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
This long-read from July 2024 captures a lot: www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-...
Reposted by QM_UCU
May we get the MPs for Southend, @bayoalaba.bsky.social & @davidbsampson.bsky.social, on the line please? And may they raise some urgent questions in parliament about how their community is allowed to be decimated like this?
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
This is disastrous. And the news are mostly hidden- not at all prioritised by the BBC as breaking news across their channels/platforms. I had to dig deep to find this link. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What do we know about University of Essex's Southend campus closure?
The university says it will be moving students from its Southend campus to Colchester.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
May we get the MPs for Southend, @bayoalaba.bsky.social & @davidbsampson.bsky.social, on the line please? And may they raise some urgent questions in parliament about how their community is allowed to be decimated like this?
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
Reposted by QM_UCU
Excited for the publication of this code. Yes, the funding model is broken, but fixing that alone won't solve #UKHE: there's a lot *within* the sector that's fed the crisis. We need to improve governance and accountability, and this code is a key step to achieve that. Grateful for all the work.
Excited to see the final version of the @cdbu.bsky.social Code of Ethical University Governance in the public domain, and looking forward to the launch event in Parliament later today. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20... #UKHE #governance
CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Excited for the publication of this code. Yes, the funding model is broken, but fixing that alone won't solve #UKHE: there's a lot *within* the sector that's fed the crisis. We need to improve governance and accountability, and this code is a key step to achieve that. Grateful for all the work.
Reposted by QM_UCU
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 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
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.
It somehow is always the widening participation programmes that are the ones that get cut first, that get deemed dispensable.
Shame on @universityofessex.bsky.social. Transforming society for the better is #UKHE 's role, Essex's in particular. Have you forgotten what you were established for?
Shame on @universityofessex.bsky.social. Transforming society for the better is #UKHE 's role, Essex's in particular. Have you forgotten what you were established for?
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 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
It somehow is always the widening participation programmes that are the ones that get cut first, that get deemed dispensable.
Shame on @universityofessex.bsky.social. Transforming society for the better is #UKHE 's role, Essex's in particular. Have you forgotten what you were established for?
Shame on @universityofessex.bsky.social. Transforming society for the better is #UKHE 's role, Essex's in particular. Have you forgotten what you were established for?
Reposted by QM_UCU
'Four university-led efficiency projects have been backed by the Scottish Funding Council under a new funding stream designed to address the sector’s financial sustainability.
The news comes a week after Jacqui Smith...ruled out a similar national fund' for England.
The news comes a week after Jacqui Smith...ruled out a similar national fund' for England.
Four university efficiency projects backed by new Scottish fund.
Scottish Funding Council’s announcement follows Westminster government’s rejection of similar national fund.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Scottish Funding Council’s announcement follows Westminster government’s rejection of similar national fund.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Four university efficiency projects backed by new Scottish fund - Research Professional News
Scottish Funding Council’s announcement follows Westminster government’s rejection of similar national fund
www.researchprofessionalnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:48 AM
'Four university-led efficiency projects have been backed by the Scottish Funding Council under a new funding stream designed to address the sector’s financial sustainability.
The news comes a week after Jacqui Smith...ruled out a similar national fund' for England.
The news comes a week after Jacqui Smith...ruled out a similar national fund' for England.
Reposted by QM_UCU
Please sign and share to get us over 700 today: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
Northumbria Pay and Pension Petition: Stop the Steal!
If Northumbria does this, other universities will too.
These cuts will harm thousands of people, their students, families, and their local communities now and into the future.
www.megaphone.org.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Please sign and share to get us over 700 today: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/no...
Reposted by QM_UCU
After extensive consultation and development from individuals and organisations across the sector, we are very pleased to publish the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance.
You can read the code and the tracked changes version here: cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20...
@profstevenjones.bsky.social 👏🏻
You can read the code and the tracked changes version here: cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20...
@profstevenjones.bsky.social 👏🏻
December 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
After extensive consultation and development from individuals and organisations across the sector, we are very pleased to publish the CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance.
You can read the code and the tracked changes version here: cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20...
@profstevenjones.bsky.social 👏🏻
You can read the code and the tracked changes version here: cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20...
@profstevenjones.bsky.social 👏🏻
Reposted by QM_UCU
'Other submissions raised concerns about the over-financialisation of governance, with educational, research and community considerations reported to be taking second place to cost savings.'
Reforms to university governance seen as ‘overdue and essential’.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
December 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
'Other submissions raised concerns about the over-financialisation of governance, with educational, research and community considerations reported to be taking second place to cost savings.'
Reposted by QM_UCU
So why launch an OfS investigation in December? I get that you might not want to get in the way of what sounds like very serious police activity, but as that work is still under way, why is December a good time to launch one when March or May was not?
December 4, 2025 at 4:24 PM
So why launch an OfS investigation in December? I get that you might not want to get in the way of what sounds like very serious police activity, but as that work is still under way, why is December a good time to launch one when March or May was not?
Reposted by QM_UCU
I mean, I get that there is due process to follow, but surely the point at which a provider suspends three senior figures including the VC because the police is investigating it for suspected fraud and bribery is the point at which you pretty much have to step in? And that point was in May.
December 4, 2025 at 4:19 PM
I mean, I get that there is due process to follow, but surely the point at which a provider suspends three senior figures including the VC because the police is investigating it for suspected fraud and bribery is the point at which you pretty much have to step in? And that point was in May.
Reposted by QM_UCU
Big question for me on this is why has it taken OfS so long to open a formal investigation?@manchestermill.bsky.social made the allegations in March, and the police started their investigation in May and intensified it in July? www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
December 4, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Big question for me on this is why has it taken OfS so long to open a formal investigation?@manchestermill.bsky.social made the allegations in March, and the police started their investigation in May and intensified it in July? www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-an...
Reposted by QM_UCU
UK university boards hampered by power imbalances and over-familiarity with senior managers, warns
@hepi-news.bsky.social report by @profstevenjones.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/boards-... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
@hepi-news.bsky.social report by @profstevenjones.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/boards-... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Boards hampered by ‘power imbalances and over-familiarity’
New ‘ethical code’ attempts to address criticism that university governance is ‘dominated by cliques’
www.timeshighereducation.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:50 PM
UK university boards hampered by power imbalances and over-familiarity with senior managers, warns
@hepi-news.bsky.social report by @profstevenjones.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/boards-... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
@hepi-news.bsky.social report by @profstevenjones.bsky.social www.timeshighereducation.com/news/boards-... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social
Reposted by QM_UCU
Given the crisis in UK universities, you'd think these people might suspend giving each other awards, or turn them down. That, even if they somehow regard themselves as deserving, they might say "Now is not the time.". But no. They really are crass and lacking in any self-awareness. Get in the sea!
(Text from UCU Derby FB post)
While we were striking to save jobs and protect education yesterday… the Vice-Chancellor was picking up an honorary degree.
😲
While we were striking to save jobs and protect education yesterday… the Vice-Chancellor was picking up an honorary degree.
😲
December 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Given the crisis in UK universities, you'd think these people might suspend giving each other awards, or turn them down. That, even if they somehow regard themselves as deserving, they might say "Now is not the time.". But no. They really are crass and lacking in any self-awareness. Get in the sea!
Reposted by QM_UCU
Tonight! Ballot gotten you down? Best to regroup and strategise. We need an end to the devastation wrought by this funding model, so how do we get there?
Whatever the outcome of the ballot, the map of redundancies in #UKHE remains full. So let’s keep organising.
Post ballot meeting to discuss organising and next steps towards a dispute with the Secretary of State
THU 4 DEC, 6-7:30pm
Register for link: luma.com/85pdolbj
Post ballot meeting to discuss organising and next steps towards a dispute with the Secretary of State
THU 4 DEC, 6-7:30pm
Register for link: luma.com/85pdolbj
December 4, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Tonight! Ballot gotten you down? Best to regroup and strategise. We need an end to the devastation wrought by this funding model, so how do we get there?
Reposted by QM_UCU
Well done to Steve & others involved in producing this 👏
Now we just need university governance to live up to such principles! The code, usefully, lays out practical steps towards this. It's collective/political pressure & organising that can make it a widespread reality.
Now we just need university governance to live up to such principles! The code, usefully, lays out practical steps towards this. It's collective/political pressure & organising that can make it a widespread reality.
Excited to see the final version of the @cdbu.bsky.social Code of Ethical University Governance in the public domain, and looking forward to the launch event in Parliament later today. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20... #UKHE #governance
CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Well done to Steve & others involved in producing this 👏
Now we just need university governance to live up to such principles! The code, usefully, lays out practical steps towards this. It's collective/political pressure & organising that can make it a widespread reality.
Now we just need university governance to live up to such principles! The code, usefully, lays out practical steps towards this. It's collective/political pressure & organising that can make it a widespread reality.
Reposted by QM_UCU
Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation. This is the first Code of #governance in the #UKHE sector to be grounded in academic research and to reflect a broad spectrum of views. A summary of consultation responses is here. www.hepi.ac.uk/reports/stro...
Strong support for ethical reform of university governance - HEPI
New research suggests there is strong backing for a university governance Code that addresses power imbalances and over-financialisation. This is the first of two reports that HEPI is publishing on un...
www.hepi.ac.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation. This is the first Code of #governance in the #UKHE sector to be grounded in academic research and to reflect a broad spectrum of views. A summary of consultation responses is here. www.hepi.ac.uk/reports/stro...
Reposted by QM_UCU
Excited to see the final version of the @cdbu.bsky.social Code of Ethical University Governance in the public domain, and looking forward to the launch event in Parliament later today. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20... #UKHE #governance
CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Excited to see the final version of the @cdbu.bsky.social Code of Ethical University Governance in the public domain, and looking forward to the launch event in Parliament later today. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20... #UKHE #governance
Excited for the publication of this code. Yes, the funding model is broken, but fixing that alone won't solve #UKHE: there's a lot *within* the sector that's fed the crisis. We need to improve governance and accountability, and this code is a key step to achieve that. Grateful for all the work.
Excited to see the final version of the @cdbu.bsky.social Code of Ethical University Governance in the public domain, and looking forward to the launch event in Parliament later today. cdbu.org.uk/cdbu-code-20... #UKHE #governance
CDBU Code of Ethical University Governance | CDBU
cdbu.org.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Excited for the publication of this code. Yes, the funding model is broken, but fixing that alone won't solve #UKHE: there's a lot *within* the sector that's fed the crisis. We need to improve governance and accountability, and this code is a key step to achieve that. Grateful for all the work.
Reposted by QM_UCU
Award for being a "great educator" one day.... Announces cuts to education the next
All in a week's work for your local Vice Chancellor
And we @ulsteruni.bsky.social thought the Times Higher UoTY Gong Washing was peak trolling......
All in a week's work for your local Vice Chancellor
And we @ulsteruni.bsky.social thought the Times Higher UoTY Gong Washing was peak trolling......
December 4, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Award for being a "great educator" one day.... Announces cuts to education the next
All in a week's work for your local Vice Chancellor
And we @ulsteruni.bsky.social thought the Times Higher UoTY Gong Washing was peak trolling......
All in a week's work for your local Vice Chancellor
And we @ulsteruni.bsky.social thought the Times Higher UoTY Gong Washing was peak trolling......
May we get the MPs for Southend, @bayoalaba.bsky.social & @davidbsampson.bsky.social, on the line please? And may they raise some urgent questions in parliament about how their community is allowed to be decimated like this?
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
This is disastrous. And the news are mostly hidden- not at all prioritised by the BBC as breaking news across their channels/platforms. I had to dig deep to find this link. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
What do we know about University of Essex's Southend campus closure?
The university says it will be moving students from its Southend campus to Colchester.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
May we get the MPs for Southend, @bayoalaba.bsky.social & @davidbsampson.bsky.social, on the line please? And may they raise some urgent questions in parliament about how their community is allowed to be decimated like this?
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
The foot traffic, the spending, the salaries: all about to disappear.
yessssssss! brilliant blog that manages to get across the complexities and nuances to even this non-legal-brained social media manager. Grateful for all your work on this, @seethingmead.bsky.social!
A piece here explaining it with a bit less legalese (I hope)
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/02/16/w...
And this from two Labour law experts…I am not
I am a human rights expert
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/10/06/s...
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/02/16/w...
And this from two Labour law experts…I am not
I am a human rights expert
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/10/06/s...
December 4, 2025 at 11:52 AM
yessssssss! brilliant blog that manages to get across the complexities and nuances to even this non-legal-brained social media manager. Grateful for all your work on this, @seethingmead.bsky.social!
Reposted by QM_UCU
It is currently a grey area and the ‘partial performance’ line is from the UCEA briefing. It’s the intimidation bit that could be less legal, as well as the ramifications of demanding rescheduling (need research for promotion; at cost of TU facilities time, etc)
Great piece on the human rights Qs:
Great piece on the human rights Qs:
We’re Miles Apart: Disproportionate Deductions from Wages, Industrial Action and Human Rights
Abstract. This article sets out a human rights-based critique of one aspect of the common law wage/work bargain: the rule that entitles employers to deduct
academic.oup.com
December 4, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Reposted by QM_UCU
A piece here explaining it with a bit less legalese (I hope)
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/02/16/w...
And this from two Labour law experts…I am not
I am a human rights expert
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/10/06/s...
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/02/16/w...
And this from two Labour law experts…I am not
I am a human rights expert
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/10/06/s...
December 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
A piece here explaining it with a bit less legalese (I hope)
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/02/16/w...
And this from two Labour law experts…I am not
I am a human rights expert
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/10/06/s...
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/02/16/w...
And this from two Labour law experts…I am not
I am a human rights expert
uklabourlawblog.com/2022/10/06/s...