The Friday email: 15 December 2023

Hands off higher education: stop the cuts

We are seeing an increasing number of universities launching attacks on our members. Job cuts, department closures, and more are already threatened at over 15 universities. National and regional UCU offices are supporting branches to campaign against this wave of cuts and redundancies but we also need your support so please sign the following petitions and look out for more opportunities to show your solidarity in the New Year:

• Cuts to modern languages at Aberdeen university: click here to sign petition. More information here.
• Defend jobs and education at Oxford Brookes University where 48 staff are facing redundancy.

Education Training Collective: Teesside colleges strike

Our members have been on strike this week across five colleges in Teesside, and have two days planned for the start of 2024 (9 and 10 January).

Chris Robinson, regional support official for UCU, said: 'After seven meetings about pay, and no extra money being offered, our members have no choice but to take industrial action.' Lawson Armstrong, UCU regional official, said: 'It was a privilege to stand with our members in further education and support their fight for a decent pay rise. The Education Training Collective needs to respond to the determination of our members and increase their pay. Working right across Teesside delivering everything from A-Levels and apprenticeships to functional skills and vocational awards, our members deserve to be worrying about the education of students, not the increasing costs that they face every month in their homes.'

UCU general secretary and vice president elections

In February 2024, members will vote in UCU general secretary and vice president elections. UCU will hold two online hustings events for these positions, and you are invited to submit questions you'd like candidates to answer at their respective hustings. Submit your questions here.

Take action for adult and community education (ACE): template letter to send to your MP

The adult and community education budget has been under attack since 2010. We have drafted a template letter for members to send to your MP to raise awareness of the funding problems and to ask them to hold the government to account. Please click here to use the UCU quick template to contact your MP today. Remember to include your MP's name and your address as a constituent in order to ensure that your MP will read the letter.

Cradle to Grave conference 2024, 10 February

UCU's annual 'Cradle to Grave' policy conference is a highlight of the calendar. Next year's conference will take place on Saturday 10 February at a central London venue, with the option to participate online, so please save the date! Further details including how to register will be circulated in early January.

Peer reviewers for equality research conference

In preparation for our biennial equality research conference which will next take place in May 2024, UCU is establishing a peer review team for papers. If you'd be interested in participating as a peer reviewer, please complete the form here by 15 February 2024.

Journal of Further and Higher Education editor-in-chief vacancy

The Journal of Further and Higher Education, which is published by Taylor & Francis for UCU, is currently recruiting for a new editor-in-chief. Anyone interested in being considered for the role can find more information here; applications are invited by 1 March 2024. If you would like an informal discussion about the role please contact Jenny Sherrard.