Local MP to visit Liverpool Hope University as confusion reigns over future funding
23 February 2011
Liverpool Wavertree MP, Luciana Berger, will meet members of UCU at Liverpool Hope University this lunchtime as confusion reigns over the future of the beleaguered institution.
The university announced this week that it would not be following the example of Oxford and Cambridge and charging the full £9,000 a year fees. However, it did not state what level of fee it would be charging or how much money it expected to generate from fees.
Despite not knowing what is happening with fees, or what its teaching grant will be, or what the outcome of the government's proposals on the future of teaching training will be, the university has announced plans to axe at least 100 jobs.
The union says it understands the vice-chancellor's wishes to try and keep university education affordable, but warns that trying to cut other universities on price and quality will backfire. The union says the university should not rush in to decisions without the full knowledge of future circumstances.
On Monday, as part of its campaign to halt the job losses, the union started a ballot of its members at Liverpool Hope for strike action and action short of strike. The result of that ballot is expected on Friday 11 March.
UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: 'Liverpool Hope's strategy of trying to undercut universities on both price and by cutting staff will backfire. Students want to be taught by highly-qualified, decently-rewarded staff in sufficient numbers to make the educational experience worth having. A race to the bottom of the type envisaged by LHU will be a disaster for everyone. It makes absolutely no sense to be axing jobs when we are still waiting for all the facts.
'UCU members have asked to be balloted because they are prepared to use every tool they possess to halt the university's destructive and ill-thought through plans. However, strike action always remains a last resort.'
Despite not knowing what is happening with fees, or what its teaching grant will be, or what the outcome of the government's proposals on the future of teaching training will be, the university has announced plans to axe at least 100 jobs.
The union says it understands the vice-chancellor's wishes to try and keep university education affordable, but warns that trying to cut other universities on price and quality will backfire. The union says the university should not rush in to decisions without the full knowledge of future circumstances.
On Monday, as part of its campaign to halt the job losses, the union started a ballot of its members at Liverpool Hope for strike action and action short of strike. The result of that ballot is expected on Friday 11 March.
UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: 'Liverpool Hope's strategy of trying to undercut universities on both price and by cutting staff will backfire. Students want to be taught by highly-qualified, decently-rewarded staff in sufficient numbers to make the educational experience worth having. A race to the bottom of the type envisaged by LHU will be a disaster for everyone. It makes absolutely no sense to be axing jobs when we are still waiting for all the facts.
'UCU members have asked to be balloted because they are prepared to use every tool they possess to halt the university's destructive and ill-thought through plans. However, strike action always remains a last resort.'
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