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Royal Holloway UCU

@rhucu.bsky.social
118 followers 90 following 30 posts

Account of the Royal Holloway UCU branch. Photo: Ray Campbell royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com

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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
New on the blog: a post before tomorrow's Emergency General Meeting, outlining plans for a discussion about how to seek to engage with SMT over the coming term, and a motion for the Equalities Conference:
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
Don’t miss the branch’s Emergency General Meeting on Wednesday 17th September
We hope that everyone has been able to take some leave over the summer and that we are all looking forward to a new academic year. Sadly, the lack of widespread clarity on Clearing numbers and the …
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University and College Union (UCU) @ucu.org.uk · 14/08/2025
🎓To all students getting results today - congratulations on your hard work and achievements. Whatever your next step, we’re fighting for a fairer, properly funded education system where all students can thrive without debt or hardship.
Congrats
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
*internal anti-casualised screaming*
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Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · 12/08/2025
This. The government has created those conditions but they are then described as though"that's just the way it is".
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
As we move into the next phase of the admissions cycle with results on Thursday, and the inevitable implications of that for 2025-26 institutional budgets, we strongly encourage everyone to keep a close eye on how those budgets are being managed in their institutions...
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
The results of our Vote of No Confidence are now out. Members voted in favour of a VONC, with a very strong preference for expressing no confidence in both the VCP and SMT. Find out more on the blog, and watch out for an invitation to an EGM in September.
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
Vote of No Confidence Result
In our Annual General Meeting in June, following a lengthy discussion over whether to hold a vote of no confidence (VONC) and in whom, we concluded to hold a vote and to ask members to indicate who…
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Now up on the blog: a reflection on the urgency of developing a sustainable strategy in order to preserve the College's legacy.
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
Preserving Royal Holloway’s Legacy: A Call for a Sustainable Strategy
Royal Holloway, University of London, is one of the most striking educational institutions in the United Kingdom. Founded through the extraordinary vision and philanthropy of Thomas and Jane Hollow…
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
...I mean, we'd hope this might prompt some reflection on value for money from consultants, but we know that's far too optimistic.
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
The results of our Vote of No Confidence are now out. Members voted in favour of a VONC, with a very strong preference for expressing no confidence in both the VCP and SMT. Find out more on the blog, and watch out for an invitation to an EGM in September.
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
Vote of No Confidence Result
In our Annual General Meeting in June, following a lengthy discussion over whether to hold a vote of no confidence (VONC) and in whom, we concluded to hold a vote and to ask members to indicate who…
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The 1752 Group @the1752group.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Are you involved in preventing harassment and sexual misconduct in higher education? Ever wondered about how to reach postgraduate research students with your work? We've just launched a toolkit to help! ukcge.ac.uk/assets/resou...
ukcge.ac.uk
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Members have been e-mailed this morning about a Vote Of No Confidence. Please do check your inboxes for details and the voting link.
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Members have been e-mailed this morning about a Vote Of No Confidence. Please do check your inboxes for details and the voting link.
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
We are pleased that at the Townhall with University staff and in an interview with The Courier, Prof. Nigel Seaton confirmed that “There’s no plan to have redundancies afterwards [after VS]. There’s no secret plan B where we might have redundancies.” www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...
thecourier.co.uk
New Dundee University boss says he wouldn't have paused retirement for any other job
In an exclusive sit down with The Courier, interim Dundee University principal Nigel Seaton sets out how he plans to win back trust and stabilise the troubled institution.
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ucusurrey @ucusurrey.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Please sign to halt outsourcing plans 👇 University of Surrey proposes to employ all new Professional Services staff through a subsidiary company on lesser T&Cs. This is an existential threat to our university & sector. speakout.web.ucu.org.uk/operate-surr... @ucu.org.uk
speakout.web.ucu.org.uk
Operate Surrey - Halt Outsourcing Plans at University of Surrey
The University of Surrey proposes to employ all new Professional Services staff through its subsidiary company: Operate Surrey: Operate Surrey - Jobs at the University of Surrey. This constitutes outs...
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The UCU branch at De Montfort University Leicester @ucudmu.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
The results of the De Montfort university UCU branch's formal No Confidence ballot have now been confirmed: a resounding 90% voted no confidence in the VC and the ULB This is the fourth significant No Confidence vote passed during the current round of proposed redundancies
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Huge congratulations to our comrades at @ducuuo.bsky.social - an absolutely outstanding result, and one that hopefully indicates a new way of collaborating with the incoming management team picking up quite a lot of pieces.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Question: does NOUS simply not do contracts? That’s a whole lot of money to spend without a contract, especially since all the other consultancies (Deloitte: £600,000; QS: £250,000) in that same Freedom of Information request did draw up paperwork. #UKHE www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/educati...
This information is not held. Although NOUS has done consultancy work for Queen Mary in the last five years, we do not hold any contract. We can tell you that total spend including VAT with NOUS Group UK Ltd was £435,275.34 between 2019-23
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The UCU branch at De Montfort University Leicester @ucudmu.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
DMU has made it back into Private Eye's latest edition thanks to the legal situation around its Dubai campus. As noted by @privateeyenews.bsky.social the apparent lack of due diligence on this matter is deeply troubling.
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Members should check their inboxes for what looks like an interesting @ucu.org.uk CPD session on Divestment, Reinvestment, and Ethical Finance Training on 8th July - given the proposed restructuring plans currently in development, this is a great chance to get more familiar with university finances.
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Amazing work by @newcastleucu.bsky.social - shows what can be done with solidarity and persistence!
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stirlingucu.bsky.social @stirlingucu.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
This is what happens when SMT's refuse to be transparent with or accountable to the community they serve www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Dundee University bosses quit after damning report into financial collapse
A report into Dundee University says its financial crisis was caused by a "self-inflicted" failure of its oversight system.
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Standing behind what our co-president has named "The Wall Of Lost Staff". We're striking because we need to know that the wall isn't going to get any longer.
Picketers stood behind a line of pieces of paper, filled with stick figures (representing lost staff), and with doors (representing vacancies that aren't open for replacement).
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Durham UCU @ducu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Our tribute to our former colleagues, lost to a "voluntary" severance process under the shadow of compulsory redundancy. Each figure is a colleague gone, each door a vacancy closed to rehiring.
A washing line with over a dozen pieces of paper, each representing either five lost colleagues, or five vacancies.The line continues...The line ends.
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
The previous VC had 'an "overbearing leadership style" and a dislike of potentially awkward confrontations or questioning'. #UKHE 'leadership' has GOT to learn that the only way forward is through conversation not diktat. Stop depicting people asking questions as attackers; they're *helpful*.
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Lynda Clark @lyndac.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Today I am ON STRIKE. I'm striking because the University of Edinburgh has claimed the need for 'savings' in staff costs amounting to £90 million. The Union estimates this to be more than 1000 staff. (Not because of everyone being on 90k+, but because of the attendant 'savings' from mass layoffs)
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hannah @hannahkateboast.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
It's our open day today and I'm on strike with @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social. Management plans to cut £140 million are opportunistic, misguided and wrong, and will harm the future of the university. Read our Joint Unions Financial Working Group blog: www.ucuedinburgh.org.uk/blog/2eppzf7...
ucuedinburgh.org.uk
Dire Financial Straits at UoE? NO! — UCU Edinburgh
Are things really as bad as they say? Find out the truth behind the numbers!
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Grant Buttars @gbuttars.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
The @ucuedinburgh.bsky.social picket at Edinburgh Futures Institute is assembling
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
In light of the catastrophic failings of governance and financial management at the University of Dundee, we continue our fight to save jobs. We’re asking for a commitment to no compulsory redundancies and the removal of the currently active Section 188. #SaveDundeeUni #SaveHE
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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Now 99 universities officially making redundancies, and I've heard of a few more to take us over the 100 mark. If I were a student, I'd be 'shocked and offended' by that more than anything else. Still nothing is done. qmucu.org/qmul-transfo...
qmucu.org
UK HE shrinking
a live page of all the redundancies and restructures happening across UK Higher Education. Page is updated regularly.
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angeladaly @nidhalaigh.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
"The university needs to look at the election of a leadership that staff can get behind and which is committed to resolving the current situation without the use of compulsory redundancies.” @carloucu.bsky.social @ducuuo.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2525296...
heraldscotland.com
University of Dundee staff resign following damning report into financial crisis
Three senior members of the University of Dundee, including its principal, have resigned in the wake of a damning report into its financial crisis
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Royal College of Nursing @rcn.org.uk · 19/06/2025
With high temperatures this week it's important to be mindful of the adverse effects that the heat can pose, as well as your rights in the workplace during warm weather. Learn more ⬇️
rcn.org.uk
Working in the heat: know your rights | RCN Magazine | Royal College of Nursing
Unforgiving uniforms, outdated heating systems and lack of water stations can create dangerous work environments. Employers have a duty of care to keep you safe in hot weather
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Dundee UCU @ducuuo.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
At 2pm today the Independent Investigation led by Pamela Gillies and BDO in to the crisis at the University of Dundee will be shared with staff. Our local newspaper, The Courier, have a live blog throughout the day. www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/...
thecourier.co.uk
Dundee University live updates as institution braces for findings of major probe into crisis
The findings of Professor Pamela Gillies's independent probe will be revealed on Thursday.
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stirlingucu.bsky.social @stirlingucu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Today Stirling launches a voluntary severance scheme (of which the branch was only notified hours before its announcement on Monday) designed to recoup an eye watering £8.1 million pounds next year. We know colleagues are scared; if you haven't already joined the union, this is a good time to do so
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Cardiff UCU @cardiffucu.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
We will continue to fight on behalf of our members’ jobs, conditions, and the academic disciplines being decimated with every tool at our disposal including consulting our members about future industrial action.
nation.cymru
Cardiff University announces final cuts package as union expresses grave concern
Martin Shipton Cardiff University has announced that the business case for its controversial “Academic Futures” cuts proposals has been approved by the university’s top decision making body. But the U...
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QM_UCU @qmucu.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
"When global consulting firm Nous Group arrives at a university, the company blueprint is always the same: weaken the academe, centralise power and cut staff." Purely accidental that that's happening here, obviously. After they deemed Schools' autonomy a 'problem' nousgroup.com/case-studies...
The university needed a new strategy to achieve its 2030 aspirations
Queen Mary University sought a 10-year growth strategy to help it achieve its ambitious 2030 goals. The university has a highly decentralised structure in which individual schools were operating with significant autonomy. This had historically made operational and strategic decision-making complex.

Nous’ consultation and analysis of the current state informed the future strategy
Nous combined extensive consultations across Queen Mary University and its faculties with detailed analysis of the university’s teaching and research performance. We:

used the outputs to develop four size and shape visions for 2030, each with the potential to fulfill the growth aspirations
tested these with the Executive Group in a workshop and agreed on a future vision that combined elements of two visions
conducted further consultations with faculties and professional services staff to understand the university’s major strategic decisions
used the insights to develop recommendations on how to proceed with the growth strategy
presented the recommendations to the Executive Group, who adopted most.
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The UCU branch at De Montfort University Leicester @ucudmu.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
www.timeshighereducation.com/news/de-mont... Thanks to THE for their attention to this matter. We have long been arguing against the DMU Dubai project and this situation is deeply concerning. @timeshighered.bsky.social
timeshighereducation.com
De Montfort University in legal dispute over axed Dubai campus
Ex-partner demands reimbursement for £42 million investment in now-defunct branch campus
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Melanie Williams @britfilmmelanie.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
As one of the UEA eight, I think this is a very important question.
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21 Group @21group.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
From the university where the Vice Chancellor is holding Dialogues on Freedom of Speech, we learn... "Barrister raised concerns that several staff members pulled out of providing testimony over fears they would face retaliation" Sometimes, it is difficult to find the words... 21percent.org?p=2234
21percent.org
Freedom of Speech ? - 21percent.org
The Telegraph reports on the grim events at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge here "In his independent report into Prof Evans’ whistleblowing claims, the external barrister appointed by Cambridge ...
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Oli Mould @olimould.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
REF2029 in a job crisis full stop. Carrying on with this mostly pointless exercise while the sector implodes is a ridiculous waste of resources. Cancel it and revisit in 2035.
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The UCU branch at De Montfort University Leicester @ucudmu.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Students pay attention to how much the university leaders are making whilst making drastic cuts to teaching. DMU leadership seems not to be interested in moderate pay reductions to help contribute to "necessary" cost cuts.
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Confront @confrontpower.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
NEW: Confront investigation into the ongoing repercussions of the asbestos industry in UK universities. Decades after asbestos was banned we reveal the remaining asbestos still present on campuses, related illnesses, and enormous costs universities are left with. confrontpower.org/the-enduring...
confrontpower.org
Terminal illnesses and endless costs: the enduring legacy of the asbestos industry in UK universities | Confront Power
Decades after it was fully banned, asbestos is still an issue across the UK's higher education system.
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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Here's some of the qualitative feedback. I hear this sort of thing multiple times per day. The basic problem is that staff joined the public sector in education, and now work in rapacious surplus-maximising machines owned by the banks. Unsustainable moral disconnect. (2/3)
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Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
NEW and major report out now about the situation in our universities, which is... not that good. It's clear that morale has collapsed, as predicted. There are of course all sorts of problems with self-report surveys, but this isn't surprising given that the HE topsoil has now been burned off. (1/3)
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
A couple of new posts on the blog: the first explains that we have, sadly, reopened the #equalities dispute with the SMT which we paused last year:
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
Here we go again
RHUL UCU is a recognised trade union that represents relevant workers at this institution. We do so with consultation and negotiation defined and implemented by the Recognition Agreement. Our remit…
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
NEW on the blog: we give an update on committee work using Freedom of Information requests to get information from College:
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
An update on Freedom Of Information requests
Over the last few months, the RHUL UCU branch committee has submitted FOI requests to RHUL SMT. These have covered a variety of issues such as: the origins of the series of Creative Conversations, …
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
While RHUL is not yet looking at redundancies, it is unlikely we will remain immune when the rest of the sector is suffering in this way. The disconnect between how universities conduct themselves and the language they use to talk about themselves is particularly concerning.
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
NEW on the blog: we give an update on committee work using Freedom of Information requests to get information from College:
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
An update on Freedom Of Information requests
Over the last few months, the RHUL UCU branch committee has submitted FOI requests to RHUL SMT. These have covered a variety of issues such as: the origins of the series of Creative Conversations, …
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Royal Holloway UCU @rhucu.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
A couple of new posts on the blog: the first explains that we have, sadly, reopened the #equalities dispute with the SMT which we paused last year:
royalhollowayucu.wordpress.com
Here we go again
RHUL UCU is a recognised trade union that represents relevant workers at this institution. We do so with consultation and negotiation defined and implemented by the Recognition Agreement. Our remit…
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Dr Maria Chondrogianni @chondrogianni.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Huge solidarity to @newcastleucu.bsky.social having an amazing rally today + to all branches on strike/facing redundancies. All @ucu.org.uk post-16 education staff deserve job security and fair pay, essential for our regions’ prosperity. #NOredundancies #DefendHE #SpreadTheResistance #Solidarity
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Vicky Blake UCU (she/her) @vickyblake.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Solidarity with @newcastleucu.bsky.social and all branches taking action in defence of jobs and conditions right now. We’re in Newcastle today for a national demo to #DefendHE #NoRedundancies #DefendEducation #StopTheCuts t.co/ZzwgiJ3gSs
t.co
https://www.ucu.org.uk/stopthecutscampaign#newcastle
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