The Department of Philosophy at Birkbeck, College of London could also be stripped of as much as six school members [actually more than that; see update], and different departments face the prospect of comparable reductions.
The administration of the college is contemplating the cuts as a part of a plan to repay a multi-million pound deficit brought on by its failure to keep away from or adequately put together for a fall in scholar numbers. In complete, 140 educational positions are threatened.
The College and School Union (UCU) opposes the cuts and final week “overwhelmingly voted for a movement of no confidence within the senior management staff and to maneuver in direction of an industrial dispute. An analogous movement can also be being put to Birkbeck’s Unison members this week, who’re largely administrative workers.”
Additional particulars here.
UPDATE (11/3/22): Kristoffer Ahlstrom-Vij, chair of Philosophy at Birkbeck writes in with the next correction and extra data:
The worst-case situation financial savings targets which have been shared by senior administration would contain a school discount of as much as 6 FTE in Philosophy. Since not all colleagues are at 1 FTE, this could seemingly contain a headcount discount of better than 6, and doubtlessly 50% of the Division. We’re at present working with senior administration to, amongst different issues, question the mannequin used to reach at this financial savings goal, and to impress on them precisely how damaging such a discount could be for the Division. Most significantly, it could severely compromise our necessary and distinctive mission of offering philosophy schooling to a variety of scholars, together with by way of night and part-time examine, and a extremely profitable conversion program for college students and not using a formal background in philosophy.
