Latest news with #UniversityofSheffieldInternationalCollege
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Strikes at Sheffield International College called off
Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) have called off strike action after management guaranteed there would be no compulsory six staff were initially at risk of redundancy, with private operator Study Group blaming falling student numbers, but all redundancy notices have subsequently been of the University and College Union (UCU) had scheduled strike action throughout February and March, but each of those strike days was suspended amid ongoing talks - meaning no industrial action has taken place on members will now vote whether to end the dispute. Sam Morecroft, UCU branch chair, said: "We're obviously glad we finally, eventually, got a guarantee from our employer."He said the final redundancy notices had not been withdrawn until twelve hours before a planned strike, which he called "frustrating"."We don't want to be saying to our students, 'look, we're going to have to go on strike' - then scrambling around to get our members voting on whether to suspend the action."However, he called the outcome "a reflection of how trade union power works".A Study Group spokesperson said: "Throughout the months of active engagement with our employees and their representatives, including the UCU, we have been able to avoid compulsory redundancies through redeployment and voluntary redundancies.""Several staff have been redeployed to take up new opportunities elsewhere in our network of international study centres." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds or catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
College staff vote to strike over job cuts threat
Staff at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) have voted to strike over proposed job cuts. A total of 36 staff are at risk of redundancy, with private operator Study Group citing falling student numbers. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted in favour of the action, with a turnout rate of 72%. All of those taking part backed the action, the union said. Sam Morecroft, UCU branch chair, said: "It is clear these redundancies have nothing to do with falling student numbers and everything to do with an attempt to force an untested standardised operating model on our college." Mr Morecroft said if the job cuts in the student support and academic teaching teams went ahead it would "increase staff workload and reduce the quality of academic and pastoral support our students receive". Study Group recently signed a new 10-year contract with the University of Sheffield to run USIC. The organisation enrols students from around the world to improve their English and provide preparation courses for those who want to go on and study at the University of Sheffield itself. Courses can cost up to £26,000 per year. A Study Group spokesperson said they were committed to providing an "excellent education" but changes in international recruitment meant they had to "adapt" staff numbers. "We very much regret UCU members at Sheffield International College have made this decision, especially after months of active engagement to try to avoid such an outcome, to a point where compulsory redundancies have been minimised," the spokesperson added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. University faces £50m shortfall in finances University of Sheffield International College
