Jobs under threat at Warwick Business School

Dozens of jobs at Warwick Business School (WBS) are under threat, despite increases in fees.

36 of 63 jobs within support services on Masters courses are at risk, according to the University and College Union (UCU), despite student fees on many of these courses almost doubling.

A one-year Masters course at WBS now costs up to £20,000.

Regional official at UCU, Martin Machon, told the _Coventry Observer_: “Plans to axe 36 posts while charging students more for courses are crude and seem to be little more than profiteering.

“It is simply not acceptable to expect fewer staff to deliver the same kind of service and, unless these plans are reversed, Warwick is on a fast track to damaging its reputation.

“We call on the university to withdraw the proposals and enter into meaningful negotiations to avoid compulsory redundancies.”

The University have refused to comment at present: “It would be inappropriate to respond…before we have actually consulted with those individual staff,” said Peter Dunn, Head of Communications at Warwick.

Dunn did confirm however that WBS has begun to engage with relevant trade unions in a formal consultation about a review of administrative support to some of its programmes.

This consultation period is expected to conclude by 9 June.

Warwick Students’ Union (SU) are concerned about the fee rises.

“We are dismayed that we see no real outlining for how the increase of Home EU fees, almost doubling in some cases, would lead to investment in student experience,” said Education Officer Sean Ruston.

He added, “We do know there has been significant concern about the fee rise by students on current Masters courses, even though it won’t affect them.

“We have recently had complaints [from current Masters students] about late feedback, several weeks after the four week return period, as well as content on exam papers that students were specifically told wouldn’t appear. These students are therefore dismayed that WBS is then increasing fees.”

The SU are continuing to talk with the University and the UCU.