ACADEMICS from a leading Scottish university have launched an outspoken attack on moves by the principal to turn it into an internationally renowned technological institution.
Lecturers from Strathclyde University said the strategy adopted by Professor Jim McDonald threatens the future of the institution as a broad-based university.
The Strathclyde branch of the UCU Scotland lecturers’ union also criticised recent plans to axe up to 100 jobs, claiming the losses will damage the student experience.
In a paper sent to university staff ahead of a meeting of Strathclyde’s ruling court today, unions state the overall strategy carries “significant potential risks for the institution’s future status, financial sustainability, reputation and integrity”.
The attack comes two years after Mr McDonald took over as Strathclyde principal with the aim of developing the university’s key strengths in business, engineering, science and law.
At the time, there was an acceptance that some of the university’s research in other departments could be improved. However, following a review of university activity that has resulted in faculty mergers, job cuts and, most recently, threats to sell off the university’s Ramshorn Theatre and Collins Art Gallery, a spokesman for UCU Scotland said restructuring plans had gone too far.
“Our greatest concern is that these cuts are part of a strategy to minimise or eliminate teaching and research connected with culture, arts and humanities, and the social sciences – all the areas where critical thought is encouraged,” he said.
“The university is in danger of ceasing to be the institution it has been since the 1960s, serving the all-round educational needs of the people of Scotland and beyond, and turning itself into a body for doing research and development for the multinational corporations management expects to fund it.”
The UCU attacked the latest plans to cut up to 100 jobs. “The biggest impact will be felt by students, with fewer lecturers to deal with their academic needs and cuts to ... counselling, medical, financial and other services leading to a massively diminished student experience.
“We need court to seriously consider the interests of the university and the people it serves, and not those of a temporary managerial clique who are threatening to cause them potentially irreparable damage.”
A spokesman for Strathclyde said: “The comments by the UCU are inaccurate and untrue. As an international technological university, whose strategy has been fully approved by court and senate, Strathclyde is driven by the connection between all four of our faculties, including humanities and social sciences.
“We have reinforced our reputation for and commitment to ‘useful learning’ to enhance our student experience and we are exploiting opportunities that connect our leading research to outcomes that have real impact with our partners in industry and the public sector.
“Recent developments have illustrated the success of our strategy with the creation of the Advanced Forming Research Centre and securing £89 million of investment in the Technology and Innovation Centre that all four of our faculties will take benefit from.”
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