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UCU Newcastle University

@newcastleucu.bsky.social

Official account of the Newcastle university branch of the university and college union

147 Posts407 Follower196 Folgt
Exeter UCU@exeterucu.bsky.social · 4w ago

The University of Exeter has confirmed that it won’t proceed with compulsory redundancies “at this time”. This means colleagues do not need to complete the pro forma, and there will be no selection process.

NO COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES photo of Nicole Kidman looking incredibly joyful and free after her divorce from Tom Cruise was finalised
Birmingham UCU@birminghamucu.bsky.social · last mo.

SundayTimes reports that the University of Birmingham spent £12.4m on redundancy payments in 2024–25. This was the fourth-highest among the eight Russell Group universities listed as spending more than £10m, and sixth-highest across all 117 institutions analysed.

Universities spend £400m on ‘golden goodbyes’ in a single year

The 60% increase shows how even top institutions are scrambling to deal with falling numbers of overseas students and stagnating domestic tuition fees

thetimes.com

Dr Susan Greaney@suegreaney.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My uni have just withdrawn Geography, History & Geography and Politics & Geography undergrad courses run from our Penryn campus. Terrible for Cornwall. How did the staff find out? When UCAS clearing opened at 8am 😡

UCU Newcastle University@newcastleucu.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Since we put this out, power has moved from @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social to @lucympowell.bsky.social but the number of jobs on the line has not reduced because of it. The future of higher education means nothing to @labouruk.bsky.social ?

UCU Newcastle University@newcastleucu.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Many more people in universities will lose their jobs if nothing changes in the way HE is (under) funded. Even more prospective students will not be able to go to university, especially here in the Norheast. @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social @markfergusonmp.bsky.social @chionwurah.bsky.social

21 Group@21group.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Universities exist to teach students & produce research This brings in the money. Academics generate the value. Everyone else is paid from that income stream. University senior management has forgotten who creates the income & who depends on it They behave as if system runs the other way around

Beth DeBold@elizaaudacis.bsky.social · 2mo ago

A perfect summation of the joy & despair that so many PGRs are being asked to hold simultaneously right now. I may be biased (Sam is my partner), but UK universities are letting the incredible talent they’ve invested in just go to waste, and it’s criminal. @newcastleucu.bsky.social @ucu.org.uk

Dr Sam Bailey@18thcenturysam.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My graduation on Friday was a wonderful but bittersweet experience. I have long called the English department at Newcastle my home, and my fellow scholars there are so dear to my heart. Seeing the culmination of three degrees over nine years has felt like a homecoming...

Me (non-binary femme) in floral blouse with black, white and red academic gown smiling next to Kate (my supervisor) in scarlet and navy gown.
21 Group@21group.bsky.social · 3mo ago

It goes like this 1 Many universities collapse over next 2 years 2 Govt notices 3 Public inquiry into decline of once thriving HE sector 4 It states that causes were complex & doesn't mention policies that made collapse inevitable In House of Lords, Baroness Shearer West agrees

Northumbria UCU Branch@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social · 3mo ago

@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social obviously dead chuffed that the brilliant Jill Halfpenny got an honorary degree from @northumbriauni.bsky.social. 🎭 Just a shame - a tragedy, even - the same uni is cutting Theatre and Performance... 😢 @ucu.org.uk www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2627205...

Beloved North East actress and Strictly star 'thrilled' after getting honorary degree

Award-winning actress Jill Halfpenny, who is from Gateshead, has been awarded an honorary degree from Northumbria University.

thenorthernecho.co.uk

elia ayoub@ayoub.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Jesus. 35 UK universities quietly- without debate - joined the Ministry of Defence’s “Battlefield Alliance” which seeks to “reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security” They’re destroying the social sciences and humanities while militarising the institutions

• Durham University • Newcastle University • Northumbria University • Lancaster University • University of Cumbria • University of Lancashire • University of Liverpool • University of Manchester • University of Huddersfield • University of Sheffield • University of York • Loughborough University • University of Lincoln • University of Nottingham • Aston University • University of Birmingham • University of Warwick • King's College London • Kingston University • Queen Mary University of London • University College London • University of Oxford • University of Portsmouth • University of Surrey • University of Bath • University of Bristol • University of Exeter • University of Plymouth • University of Edinburgh • University of Glasgow • University of Strathclyde • Cardiff University • Swansea University • Queens University Belfast • Cranfield UniversityFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 July 2026 UK Universities Betray Public Trust by Joining MoD's 'Battlefield Advantage' Alliance Without Debate A coalition of campaign groups has accused UK universities of quietly integrating themselves into Britain's defence infrastructure after 35 institutions signed up to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Universities Alliance (DUA). The Ministry of Defence says the alliance aims to "reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security", strengthen links between universities and the defence sector, and translate research into "battlefield advantage". Campaigners say the move represents a significant shift in the role of higher education and has taken place without meaningful public debate. Among the founding members are the University of Oxford, University College London, King's College London, the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University and Queen's University Belfast. "We are witnessing the formal incorporation of Britain's universities into the defence ecosystem," said Jinsella Kennaway, Founder and Executive Director of Demilitarise Education. "The Ministry of Defence is explicit about its intentions. Universities exist to advance knowledge and foster critical inquiry, not to become pipelines for military research and defence recruitment. Students and staff deserve to know who agreed to this and why." Campaigners are calling on all 35 universities to publish the governance documents and board minutes relating to their decision to join the alliance, and to explain whether staff and students were consulted. Many UK universities already maintain relationships with major defence companies, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, Thales, Lockheed Martin and QinetiQ. Critics argue that the DUA formalises and accelerates the integration of academia, industry and the state. The coalition warns that, at a time of rising defence spending, universities risk becoming increasingly aligned with governme…
Joshi Herrmann@joshih.bsky.social · 3mo ago

BIG NEWS from @molliesimpson.bsky.social: Three people have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, fraud and bribery at University of Greater Manchester. Police say opened their investigation a year ago “after we received allegations from The Mill". manchestermill.co.uk/breaking-thr...

BREAKING: Three people arrested on suspicion of money laundering, fraud and bribery at University of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Police are investigating the alleged misuse of as much as £1.7 million

manchestermill.co.uk

Northumbria UCU Branch@ucunorthumbria.bsky.social · 3mo ago

@ucu.org.uk @ucucommons.org @uculeft.bsky.social @newcastleucu.bsky.social @tucneyh.bsky.social @tuc.org.uk @unisoninhe.bsky.social @unison.org.uk www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-e...

Northumbria University staff 'outraged' at job cuts after pension row strikes

After lecturers staged weeks of strike action over a pension dispute earlier this year, a fresh row over job losses at Northumbria University has now broken out

chroniclelive.co.uk

University of Nottingham UCU branch@uonucu.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This isn't just a fight for UoN. This is a fight for the future of higher education in the UK and globally. Colleagues from across the country have supported us in our efforts, financially and otherwise. We thank these members and others for their generous donation which will help us keep fighting!

UCU Newcastle University@newcastleucu.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Solidarity works! Colleagues in History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA) at Newcastle have raised £586 for the UCU Nottingham fighting fund in support of members taking strike action against compulsory redundancies. The collection was organised in recognition that what happens at one

image showing a Solidarity Fund pot for Nottingham Uni UCU to show that we are all in this fight together, and that doing twinning between sections and branches makes a material difference!
UCU Newcastle University@newcastleucu.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Solidarity works! Colleagues in History, Classics and Archaeology (HCA) at Newcastle have raised £586 for the UCU Nottingham fighting fund in support of members taking strike action against compulsory redundancies. The collection was organised in recognition that what happens at one

image showing a Solidarity Fund pot for Nottingham Uni UCU to show that we are all in this fight together, and that doing twinning between sections and branches makes a material difference!