University of Kent lecturers protest against redundancy during strike action

KentOnline / KMTV

The University are aiming to save £20 million, and say they're working through their options.  Our reporters went to the picket lines to find out more.

Transcript

00:00There's a festival atmosphere here on the picket line at the University of Kent,

00:09but for these lecturers there's little to celebrate.

00:12We've been in a state of flux at Kent for four or five years.

00:15Staff have left in their hundreds year upon year upon year

00:19and all we're asking for is a bit of stability.

00:23I asked some of those on strike what message they had for the university's senior leadership team.

00:28Stop the cuts, talk to us and we can come to a solution.

00:33We cannot afford to lose more staff, especially professional services staff.

00:39Do not cut our staff and make sure we can do the work we are here to do.

00:44Many fear these cuts threaten the future of higher education in Kent,

00:48a feeling shared by the incoming leader of the local trade union which has called these strikes.

00:53I think there's a really bright future for the University of Kent

00:55if management starts to listen to its staff and to its students.

00:58It's an excellent university, it's a key part of the local economy,

01:01it delivers a huge range of courses, it's got a really rich history.

01:04There's so much more this university can offer,

01:06but under the current management it is being run into the ground.

01:09Last year the University of Kent announced extensive cuts to its offering for students,

01:13with subjects phased out and staff laid off.

01:16A voluntary redundancy scheme was opened earlier this year,

01:19while 58 members of staff have been issued with risk of redundancy notices.

01:23According to the UCU, the university has refused to rule out compulsory job cuts beyond December,

01:28and that's why they're on strike.

01:30For staff, these cuts are existential.

01:33Six courses are being completely phased out, including the religious studies course in Canterbury,

01:38the home of the Church of England.

01:40Although students already enrolled are being taught through to the end of their course,

01:44the impending closure looms large over their educational experience.

01:48Many staff have already left, and those who remain are concerned about the impact on their workload.

01:54Kent Centre for Journalism here at Medway Campus is one of those facing the axe.

01:58I spoke to the head of the centre about the impact this is already having.

02:02There's no sense hiding it, that students are very aware that they're on a course that's dying,

02:07they're very aware they're on a campus which has shrunk,

02:09and that makes motivation very difficult.

02:12It makes engagement very difficult.

02:14If you're a young person like I was when I grew up in Kent wanting to be a journalist,

02:18there is now nowhere in Kent that will train you how to do it.

02:21The sector's in crisis, and at the moment there doesn't seem to be a compelling answer how to fix it.

02:28With neither side appearing willing to compromise,

02:30this dispute is likely to rumble on long after the music has stopped.

02:34Harry Craig, KMTV, Canterbury.

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