Goldsmiths, University of London, announces significant job cuts, impacting a quarter of academic roles, sparking strike action from the University and College Union in response to the potential impact on education quality.
Goldsmiths, University of London, faces significant job cuts, with the University and College Union (UCU) announcing that its members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in response. The proposed redundancies would impact up to a quarter of academic roles at the institution, sparking concerns among staff and students about the future quality of education and the institution’s courses. The job cuts, described by UCU general secretary Jo Grady as “almost incomprehensible,” could lead to one in six academic staff being laid off, affecting departments such as anthropology, English, history, and music severely, with some potentially losing half their staff.
The cuts have been attributed to financial pressures and the challenges posed by the current Higher Education funding model in the UK. Goldsmiths’ management has insisted that these difficult decisions are necessary to ensure the institution’s progressive future, emphasizing their commitment to protecting the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The UCU, however, has criticized the move as a “horrifying act of cultural and social vandalism” and is prepared to support sustained industrial action to prevent the proposed job losses. They have called for collaboration with the university’s management to protect jobs and courses.
The planned redundancies have also drawn criticism from prominent figures, including broadcaster Michael Rosen and cultural theorist Angela McRobbie. The dispute highlights broader issues facing the UK university sector, including the sustainability of the funding model and the impact of external factors such as falling international student numbers and the declining value of tuition fees.
As Goldsmiths, known for its strong creative arts and humanities programmes and alumni like film director Steve McQueen and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, braces for strikes, both the university and the union are focused on finding a resolution. Goldsmiths has expressed regret over the potential disruption to students’ learning and assured efforts to minimize job losses. The university and the UCU continue discussions, with the union urging management to reconsider the proposed cuts to mitigate their impact on the university’s academic environment.
