Author: QMUCU

A warning from the editor of The Lancet to researchers thinking of starting their independent careers at Queen Mary Richard Horton, The Lancet, Volume 380, Issue 9836, Page 13, 7 July 2012 Caveat emptor. Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL), is currently promoting what it sees as its virtues. In one advertisement, under the heading … Continue reading Be careful what you wish for

As news spreads of the appalling treatment of staff in various restructurings, Queen Mary management has attracted the dubious honour of being skewered by the UK's leading satirist of Higher Education, Laurie Taylor, in his well-loved column "The Poppletonian", in the Times Higher. "The Poppletonian" is a satirical newsletter of a fictional university which embodies … Continue reading QM restructurings ridiculed

On 29 May, Queen Mary UCU held a General Meeting to discuss the ongoing threat of redundancies and imposed performance management. There was a record turnout. The following motions were passed virtually unanimously, indicating that the membership wanted to have a ballot on industrial action. This was really an expression of the strength of feeling … Continue reading QM UCU GM votes for a strike ballot

THE carries a report today on SBCS lecturer Dr Fanis Missirilis who is now being investigated by Human Resources for questioning the ongoing restructuring of his School and SMD. He is accused of having brought the Head of School in SBCS and the research dean of SMD "into disrepute". If the investigation escalates into a … Continue reading SBCS Lecturer Faces Potential Dismissal for Questioning Restructuring

For those new to the site and interested to find out quickly what is happening at QM:The School of Chemical and Biological Sciences restructuring: read our first post "Save SBCS!" and see other posts here.The School of Medicine and Dentistry restructuring: see posts here.

Two colleagues from SBCS have a letter in the latest issue of The Lancet condemning the "mindless managerial rampage spreading through Queen Mary, University of London". They observe: we are looking at the end of the road for unique and internationally leading-edge Queen Mary research... The list is long. Alas, there are no boxes to … Continue reading Queen Mary: nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

David Bignell, emeritus professor of zoology at QM, has a compelling op-ed piece in this week's Times Higher. An excerpt: Will restructuring work? Everybody except modern managers knows a good department is not about metrics but about spirit. Do you want to come in each day or are you scared of your dean? Is your … Continue reading SBCS: Madness of Metrics

In mid-April, colleagues in SBCS learned whether they were "at risk" of redundancy. As expected, 20 people are being affected by the restructuring. 11 posts are "at risk" while 9 other colleagues face being shunted into teaching-only roles on inferior terms and conditions. UCU reps are accompanying at-risk individuals to meetings with managers to try … Continue reading SBCS Restructuring: The Impact on Teaching