In the news this week: 18 September 2015

Extremism guidance for universities and colleges

UCU warned yesterday that government plans to clamp down on extremism in schools, colleges and universities risked creating mistrust between lecturers and students and threatened freedom of speech. UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, told the Independent that universities and colleges must continue to cherish and promote academic freedom as a key tenet of our civilised society.

Writing in the Telegraph, Sally said that students needed to be confident that they can debate, explore and challenge serious topics in lectures and seminars. 'Some of the subjects up for debate may be difficult ones, but shying away from them because people are fearful they may be considered extreme is no way to deal with any issue', she warned.

500 jobs at risk as Open University announces plans to close seven regional centres

On Tuesday, the Open University (OU) announced controversial plans that could see almost 500 jobs could disappear from seven of its centres in England. UCU warned that thousands of current and potential students could be affected by the move, which would see the removal of vital services, such as careers counselling, study advice and support for disabled students in centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Gateshead, Leeds, London and Oxford.

OU UCU branch president Pauline Collins told the BBC that the OU was respected all over the world for the way it brought quality higher education to a wide range of people. 'At the core of that mission are its dedicated regional staff who provide essential support to thousands of students and their tutors', she said. Sally Hunt spent Wednesday morning on local BBC radio stations speaking out against the OU's plans. You can sign the petition against the cuts here.

Uncertainty and anxiety at Queen's University over potential job losses

Queen's University Belfast has warned staff it may have to make compulsory redundancies in an effort to save money. The university announced in April it was cutting 236 posts through a voluntary redundancy scheme. However, it now says it has not met its savings target and will say how many jobs are now at risk, or rule out compulsory redundancies.

Alun Harpur, president of the Queen's branch of UCU told the BBC: 'They don't know who will be targeted for compulsory redundancy if the university is intending to go down that route. The union has not yet been provided with the necessary information in terms of staff numbers involved or indeed the amount of savings that the university is short by.

Government spent £15m on colleges that closed or did not open

More than £15 million has been spent on controversial university technical colleges (UTCs) that were shut down or never opened at all. UCU said the costs served as a reminder of the need to shore up our colleges' finances, not seek risky alternatives.

Sally Hunt told TES 'Many UTCs offer similar courses and curriculums to those offered by existing further education colleges, so there is already the risk of costly duplication. At a time when further education is facing yet further pressures on its finances, it is time to shore up our colleges' finances, not seek risky alternatives.'

Further embarrassment for the government over Trade Union Bill

Further embarrassment for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills this week after Private Eye reported how its Trade Union Bill Equality Analysis didn't have any evidence to back up some of its key claims. Private Eye also highlighted how the bill to curb unions' ability to strike was already under fire from the government's own red tape watchdog, who have described it as unworkable.

TUC Congress

A UCU delegation was in Brighton from Sunday to Wednesday this week at the annual TUC congress. Union members spoke in a range of debates and secured support for UCU's campaigning work against cuts in education and the casualisation of the work force. Guest speakers included the director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti and new Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn.