Staff at London South Bank University have expressed concern over a significant drop in the number of courses offered, which they believe to be a consequence of sweeping changes in higher education proposed by the government. Data from university admissions service Ucas suggests that undergraduate courses offered by LSBU could be reduced by up to two-thirds over the course of a year. LSBU denied this was accurate, but admitted that two subjects, history and geography, would no longer be offered and that there would be a reduction in subject specialisms. Earlier this year, cuts to courses and department closures, particularly in humanities and social sciences, led to strike ballots.
Meanwhile, at LSBU, seven courses in law and social sciences have been closed effectively, including postgraduate courses in sustainability studies, refugee, and development studies, and undergraduate programs in human geography and history. Staff at the university fear that further closures may occur, as the university continues to restructure its undergraduate courses. The University and College Union (UCU) has written to LSBU’s vice-chancellor, David Phoenix, accusing management of avoiding consultation over course closures and calling for a suspension of the portfolio review, which, it claims, has triggered widespread anxiety. The UCU has initiated the "failure to agree" letter, which represents the first step toward a probable industrial dispute.
According to a representative from Liverpool University, there is a possibility of 32 staff members facing unemployment in light of recent changes. This number is out of a total workforce of approximately 7,000 individuals. The spokesperson went on to explain that the amended process and criteria is a deliberate response to feedback from UCU, and they express their disappointment that workers have called for industrial action before the consultation process has had the chance to conclude.
Meanwhile, representatives from Leicester University confirmed that their proposed changes would lead to the compulsory redundancy of 26 employees. However, it is essential to note that this figure only makes up a small percentage of their total workforce, which consists of around 3,500 individuals.