UCU QMU
@ucuqmu.bsky.social
Posting updates from UCU at Queen Margaret University Edinburgh and sharing thoughts about UKHE more generally
Reposted by UCU QMU
One table has moved on to how much extra work reorganisations have created, & how moving people into open plan spaces means they can no longer work on campus or meet students easily. Increasing workloads while also making familiar tasks more onerous & crushing morale is the theme. Familiar.
August 7, 2026 at 9:56 AM
One table has moved on to how much extra work reorganisations have created, & how moving people into open plan spaces means they can no longer work on campus or meet students easily. Increasing workloads while also making familiar tasks more onerous & crushing morale is the theme. Familiar.
Reposted by UCU QMU
Doing some work in one of our university cafes prior to a meeting. All I can hear is people around me talking about the shabby way they've been treated in the latest cost-cutting measures, misery about redundancies & departmental closures, & discussion of retirement. Things are grim.
August 7, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Doing some work in one of our university cafes prior to a meeting. All I can hear is people around me talking about the shabby way they've been treated in the latest cost-cutting measures, misery about redundancies & departmental closures, & discussion of retirement. Things are grim.
Shocking behaviour
WE HAD A DEAL!
Watt happened?
HWUCU back on strike today because our employer has signalled they won't keep their side of a deal made in June to protect jobs.
No Compulsory Redundancy.
@ucu.org.uk @joshpizpom.bsky.social @timeshighered.bsky.social @theferret.scot @ucuscotland.bsky.social
Watt happened?
HWUCU back on strike today because our employer has signalled they won't keep their side of a deal made in June to protect jobs.
No Compulsory Redundancy.
@ucu.org.uk @joshpizpom.bsky.social @timeshighered.bsky.social @theferret.scot @ucuscotland.bsky.social
August 7, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Shocking behaviour
👀
Universities cannot make money teaching home undergrads or doing funded research. Indeed, those run at a large loss. Only teaching international students make sense in any way. The logical endpoint is taking only international students, reducing research and moving many ops out of the UK altogether.
August 5, 2026 at 9:54 AM
👀
Reposted by UCU QMU
It's really important to emphasize this: the reason that conservatives are arguing for increased teaching loads is that they want to END mainstream humanities research
Conservatives have argued that adopting minimum teaching loads will curb a proliferation of “intellectually unserious” research. https://chroni.cl/4wmW9iZ
The Campaign to Make Professors Teach More
Lawmakers say faculty members don’t work enough. Is this about productivity or punishment?
chroni.cl
July 6, 2026 at 7:45 PM
It's really important to emphasize this: the reason that conservatives are arguing for increased teaching loads is that they want to END mainstream humanities research
Reposted by UCU QMU
That includes so-called “non-research” or “teaching-intensive“ institution. Time for research and knowledge creation is important for everyone.
July 6, 2026 at 11:54 PM
That includes so-called “non-research” or “teaching-intensive“ institution. Time for research and knowledge creation is important for everyone.
Reposted by UCU QMU
On the teaching load thing: professors actually teach far too much; universities should be hiring more faculty so that nobody has to teach more than a 2/2.
July 6, 2026 at 11:51 PM
On the teaching load thing: professors actually teach far too much; universities should be hiring more faculty so that nobody has to teach more than a 2/2.
Reposted by UCU QMU
Cutting courses is the easy choice.
The difficult choice is saying “we don’t have the money right now, but the future is important. Somehow, we’ll find a way to prioritise a long term vision of governing a country (and its people) over the short term expediency of running an economy.”
The difficult choice is saying “we don’t have the money right now, but the future is important. Somehow, we’ll find a way to prioritise a long term vision of governing a country (and its people) over the short term expediency of running an economy.”
July 7, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Cutting courses is the easy choice.
The difficult choice is saying “we don’t have the money right now, but the future is important. Somehow, we’ll find a way to prioritise a long term vision of governing a country (and its people) over the short term expediency of running an economy.”
The difficult choice is saying “we don’t have the money right now, but the future is important. Somehow, we’ll find a way to prioritise a long term vision of governing a country (and its people) over the short term expediency of running an economy.”
Reposted by UCU QMU
QMU staff strike during graduation days amid jobs cuts dispute #StopTheCuts #SaveHE www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/qmu-sta...
QMU staff strike during graduation days amid jobs cuts dispute
The dispute is over proposals by senior managers to cut £4 million in staffing costs over the next two financial years.
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com
July 7, 2026 at 10:05 AM
QMU staff strike during graduation days amid jobs cuts dispute #StopTheCuts #SaveHE www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/qmu-sta...
Reposted by UCU QMU
So many departments right now dealing with this exact thing: the massive extra push of work to launch a new curriculum, mandated from above, while under threat of redundancy
The new academic year starts in 2 months. The modules to run are set in stone even if the all-new first year ones haven’t yet been designed. All that remains is to decide which 3 of the 23 of us will still be here to teach them. The redundancy selection criteria has not yet been announced…
'Academics fear they are being “set up to fail” after several institutions finished the academic year by announcing fresh job cuts, casting doubt over who will return after the summer break, and what courses they will be teaching.' 1/3
July 7, 2026 at 9:20 AM
So many departments right now dealing with this exact thing: the massive extra push of work to launch a new curriculum, mandated from above, while under threat of redundancy
Our fantastic pickets this morning and afternoon 💗✊🏻💗 The number of students and parents thanking staff on the pickets for their dedicated hard work as lecturers and support staff AND for fighting against the cuts made us a bit teary. Thank you for all your support #StopTheCuts
July 7, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Our fantastic pickets this morning and afternoon 💗✊🏻💗 The number of students and parents thanking staff on the pickets for their dedicated hard work as lecturers and support staff AND for fighting against the cuts made us a bit teary. Thank you for all your support #StopTheCuts
We're being treated to a pipe band on the picket line this morning! Out of sashes but plenty of stickers left. Loving the student solidarity: "What do you mean? That's wild - this is what QMU is all about - the support is better than anywhere else" #StopTheCuts
July 7, 2026 at 8:33 AM
We're being treated to a pipe band on the picket line this morning! Out of sashes but plenty of stickers left. Loving the student solidarity: "What do you mean? That's wild - this is what QMU is all about - the support is better than anywhere else" #StopTheCuts
Reposted by UCU QMU
Academics fear they are being “set up to fail” after several institutions finished the academic year by announcing fresh job cuts, casting doubt over who will return after the summer break, and what courses they will be teaching #highered #jobcuts #edusky
https://ow.ly/VJVG50ZkBOr
https://ow.ly/VJVG50ZkBOr
July 7, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Academics fear they are being “set up to fail” after several institutions finished the academic year by announcing fresh job cuts, casting doubt over who will return after the summer break, and what courses they will be teaching #highered #jobcuts #edusky
https://ow.ly/VJVG50ZkBOr
https://ow.ly/VJVG50ZkBOr
Reposted by UCU QMU
One thing that I suspect is now going to happen is that universities will realise how many academics have been self-funding research when less of it starts to appear.
July 7, 2026 at 6:41 AM
One thing that I suspect is now going to happen is that universities will realise how many academics have been self-funding research when less of it starts to appear.
Back on the picket line this morning to #StopTheCuts, 9-11 and 1-3 outside Usher Hall, see you there! Managed to reclaim most of the sashes from our amazing students and our armbands will be replenished! ✊🏻
July 7, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Back on the picket line this morning to #StopTheCuts, 9-11 and 1-3 outside Usher Hall, see you there! Managed to reclaim most of the sashes from our amazing students and our armbands will be replenished! ✊🏻
Reposted by UCU QMU
I can tell you already how universities are going to adjust: firing more people, increasing the student to teacher ratios, reducing degrees offer and increasing any other charges they can find.
Why is the UK so determined to destroy Higher Education?
Why is the UK so determined to destroy Higher Education?
July 6, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I can tell you already how universities are going to adjust: firing more people, increasing the student to teacher ratios, reducing degrees offer and increasing any other charges they can find.
Why is the UK so determined to destroy Higher Education?
Why is the UK so determined to destroy Higher Education?
Reposted by UCU QMU
Strike at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh over job cuts #StopTheCuts #SaveHE news.stv.tv/east-central...
Queen Margaret University staff strike over job cuts on graduation days
The dispute comes amid plans to save £4 million from staffing costs.
news.stv.tv
July 6, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Strike at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh over job cuts #StopTheCuts #SaveHE news.stv.tv/east-central...
Reposted by UCU QMU
Staff at QMU strike during uni student graduation ceremonies #StopTheCuts #SaveHE www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...
Staff at Edinburgh QMU vote to strike during uni student graduation ceremonies
'Strike action is always a last resort, but we’ll continue to defend all jobs.'
www.edinburghlive.co.uk
July 6, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Staff at QMU strike during uni student graduation ceremonies #StopTheCuts #SaveHE www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinbur...
Reposted by UCU QMU
QMU @ucuqmu.bsky.social on strike today & tomorrow to defend jobs, opposing possible compulsory redundancies and cuts to research & scholarship time. At graduations today and tomorrow at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh congratulating the students they've taught ✊️ #StopTheCuts #SaveHE
July 6, 2026 at 1:43 PM
QMU @ucuqmu.bsky.social on strike today & tomorrow to defend jobs, opposing possible compulsory redundancies and cuts to research & scholarship time. At graduations today and tomorrow at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh congratulating the students they've taught ✊️ #StopTheCuts #SaveHE
We're celebrating students' success on the first day of graduation ceremonies and calling for QMU management to stop the cuts and changes to working conditions that will damage the student experience, staff wellbeing and quality of the university #StopTheCuts #UCU
July 6, 2026 at 12:36 PM
We're celebrating students' success on the first day of graduation ceremonies and calling for QMU management to stop the cuts and changes to working conditions that will damage the student experience, staff wellbeing and quality of the university #StopTheCuts #UCU
Would be nice if our leaders would challenge this situation in any way, rather than enthusiastically line up to put us through an experimental mini-merger by sharing with ENU and SRUC as many professional services and academic programmes as they can manage 😶
‘We urge the Government to prioritise this issue. Should this situation continue unchecked, the damage to the health of higher education, research and innovation will be profound and have long-lasting consequences.’
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/stateme...
British Academy President: UK higher education crisis risks irreversible damage
As course closures, shrinking provision and widening regional inequalities threaten the future of UK higher education and research, President of the British Academy, Susan J Smith calls for an immedia...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
July 6, 2026 at 7:59 AM
Would be nice if our leaders would challenge this situation in any way, rather than enthusiastically line up to put us through an experimental mini-merger by sharing with ENU and SRUC as many professional services and academic programmes as they can manage 😶
Morning folks, it's our first strike day against compulsory redundancies and reduction in research and scholarship time. Members, check your email for picket details, see you there ✊🏻
July 6, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Morning folks, it's our first strike day against compulsory redundancies and reduction in research and scholarship time. Members, check your email for picket details, see you there ✊🏻
Reposted by UCU QMU
"[Universities]were here long before the locusts [(aka management consultants)] started eating the harvest: they will be with us long after the plague has passed." I sincerely hope so. The locusts are amongst us, and too few see their evil ways.
www.ft.com/content/5032...
www.ft.com/content/5032...
Management consultants are ruining UK universities
Relentless off-the-peg commercial rewiring has undermined British higher education
www.ft.com
July 1, 2026 at 9:42 AM
"[Universities]were here long before the locusts [(aka management consultants)] started eating the harvest: they will be with us long after the plague has passed." I sincerely hope so. The locusts are amongst us, and too few see their evil ways.
www.ft.com/content/5032...
www.ft.com/content/5032...
Reposted by UCU QMU
"Wildly optimistic management may dream that the remaining staff can be stretched further, but in the real world that will just lead to further staff losses as the burden and stress on remaining staff increases."
He published it as a LinkedIn article.
And any staff member and manager in #UKHE should read it and keep bringing it up in any meeting about cutting into departments.
And any staff member and manager in #UKHE should read it and keep bringing it up in any meeting about cutting into departments.
June 28, 2026 at 1:53 PM
"Wildly optimistic management may dream that the remaining staff can be stretched further, but in the real world that will just lead to further staff losses as the burden and stress on remaining staff increases."
Reposted by UCU QMU
I like this idea: mandatory arts and humanities classes for university leaders. No cutting / devastating / de-staffing disciplines without at least a basic understanding of what they do & and how they can enrich our approach to questions like what education is for…
Thinking about these demands to ramp up teaching at the expense of research time. What do these people imagine arts and humanities teaching is, working through a textbook? Even if it were, written by?? Petition not only for VCs & senior managers to have to teach one class a year but also to take one
June 27, 2026 at 4:25 PM
I like this idea: mandatory arts and humanities classes for university leaders. No cutting / devastating / de-staffing disciplines without at least a basic understanding of what they do & and how they can enrich our approach to questions like what education is for…