We had a good turnout for the demonstration. And it didn't rain!
There was a message of support from Leanne Wood A.M.
Jenny Randerson A.M. travelled from an engagement in Manchester to speak and show her support. And Jenny Willott M.P. also attended and spoke in support of our campaign.
Several campaigners thanked our students, our colleagues and our A.M.s for all their support during the last hundred days. Whatever the outcome, we know that what we are doing is worthwhile. If the university Council fails to see reason then we won't stop until we've changed their minds!
Patricia Clark gave an interview to BBC Radio Wales's Good Evening Wales programme.
You can listen again here until 3 August. (It's 35 minutes into the recording.)
Meanwhile, other campaigners were being interviewed by ITN Wales and Radio Cymru.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Friday, 24 July 2009
SOME BREAKING NEWS
The Scrutiny Group has finished its report to the University Council, which meets on Monday 27 July. Its recommendations are not due to go public until after the Council meeting. However, several members of Senate have confirmed that the Scrutiny Group recommends saving 40 – 50 humanities courses, to be chosen partly on financial viability and partly because of some academic rationale (which is not spelled out). This is to be on a “time-limited trial basis initially, before a longer-term decision is made.”
IF the University Council accepts the recommendation, then about 20% of the Humanities courses will be saved and 80% will be lost. This is bad news for our students, and particularly bad news for those pursuing named foundation certificates. Also there is no guarantee that the courses will continue after 2010.
IF COUNCIL ACCEPTS THE SCRUTINY GROUP RECOMMENDATION THEN:
1. It is apparently impossible for the centre to be able to organise the selection of the 40 – 50 saved courses in time for a September start. It will probably be January 2010 before the next Humanities course runs. It could be even later.
2. All tutors’ contracts will end on 31 July 2009. There will be interviews to hire new tutors for the saved Humanities courses. Current tutors may apply. The situation is that current tutors will be made redundant on 31 July and will start again next year on a new contract.
3. If you are a Humanities or Welsh tutor then please send in any outstanding pay claims as soon as possible. Any redundancy payments will be calculated on this year’s earnings and Human Resources don’t know what you’ve earned until you send in a pay claim.
It would also be prudent to locate your past contract so as to see how many years of continuous service you have. The Human Resources records are not perfect, by any means.
4. The abbreviated Humanities programme would be managed by one co-ordinating lecturer, or two working on a job-share basis. This means at least two redundancies of co-ordinating lecturers.
5. Management do not plan to make any reduction in support staff before January 2010 because they are likely to be busy implementing the new programme.
THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS.
Come to the demonstration on Monday 27 July, 4.15pm at Main College, Park Place, Cardiff (opposite the Student union building). This could be the last chance of making your voice heard. It is just possible that, hearing sounds of audible disappointment, Council members may be moved to save more courses.
THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE TO SAVE OUR SUBJECTS!
IF the University Council accepts the recommendation, then about 20% of the Humanities courses will be saved and 80% will be lost. This is bad news for our students, and particularly bad news for those pursuing named foundation certificates. Also there is no guarantee that the courses will continue after 2010.
IF COUNCIL ACCEPTS THE SCRUTINY GROUP RECOMMENDATION THEN:
1. It is apparently impossible for the centre to be able to organise the selection of the 40 – 50 saved courses in time for a September start. It will probably be January 2010 before the next Humanities course runs. It could be even later.
2. All tutors’ contracts will end on 31 July 2009. There will be interviews to hire new tutors for the saved Humanities courses. Current tutors may apply. The situation is that current tutors will be made redundant on 31 July and will start again next year on a new contract.
3. If you are a Humanities or Welsh tutor then please send in any outstanding pay claims as soon as possible. Any redundancy payments will be calculated on this year’s earnings and Human Resources don’t know what you’ve earned until you send in a pay claim.
It would also be prudent to locate your past contract so as to see how many years of continuous service you have. The Human Resources records are not perfect, by any means.
4. The abbreviated Humanities programme would be managed by one co-ordinating lecturer, or two working on a job-share basis. This means at least two redundancies of co-ordinating lecturers.
5. Management do not plan to make any reduction in support staff before January 2010 because they are likely to be busy implementing the new programme.
THIS IS NOT GOOD NEWS.
Come to the demonstration on Monday 27 July, 4.15pm at Main College, Park Place, Cardiff (opposite the Student union building). This could be the last chance of making your voice heard. It is just possible that, hearing sounds of audible disappointment, Council members may be moved to save more courses.
THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE TO SAVE OUR SUBJECTS!
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
CAMPAIGN PARTY!
Let's mark the end of the campaign! The result will be out - hopefully this will be a celebration!
The venue, The Rockin' Chair, features real rocking chairs and a West Indian ambience.
When: 6.30pm, Thursday 30th July
Where: The Rockin' Chair, 62-64 Lower Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, CF11 6LT
How much: West Indian Curries will be available for £6.50.
To confirm you can attend and whether you would like dinner please e-mail Susan Morgan at: sue-morgan@hotmail.com
The venue, The Rockin' Chair, features real rocking chairs and a West Indian ambience.
When: 6.30pm, Thursday 30th July
Where: The Rockin' Chair, 62-64 Lower Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, CF11 6LT
How much: West Indian Curries will be available for £6.50.
To confirm you can attend and whether you would like dinner please e-mail Susan Morgan at: sue-morgan@hotmail.com
Demonstrate on Monday 27 July!
On 27th July Cardiff University Council will make their final decision on the future of humanities and Welsh provision in the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning. 140 jobs are at stake, as hundreds of courses could be lost, affecting thousands of students across South Wales.
We will be demonstrating from 4.15 to 5pm outside the University Main College Building, Park Place, Cardiff, on 27th July, where the University Council will be meeting. Come and join us!
This could be your last chance to make an impact!
The University Council has declined to receive another deputation from the Campaign. We won’t have a voice inside the council chamber. So let’s demonstrate and make our voices heard outside!
We will be demonstrating from 4.15 to 5pm outside the University Main College Building, Park Place, Cardiff, on 27th July, where the University Council will be meeting. Come and join us!
This could be your last chance to make an impact!
The University Council has declined to receive another deputation from the Campaign. We won’t have a voice inside the council chamber. So let’s demonstrate and make our voices heard outside!
Western Mail: Appeal to Neil Kinnock
This letter appeared in the Western Mail, 22 July 2009.
Looking to Neil
SIR – When the country is mired in the deepest recession in living memory, surely this is the worst possible time for Cardiff University to be gutting its adult education service.
This will denude SE Wales of learning opportunities for adults and lead to the loss of 140 jobs, most of them part-time women tutors.
The outgoing president of Cardiff University is Lord Kinnock, someone who knows how life-changing education can be.
The users and tutors at the Centre for Lifelong Learning are now looking to Lord Kinnock to leave a more positive legacy than a gutted adult education service and mass redundancies in a centre that plays a crucial part in the health and well-being of people in the local community as well as offering access to higher education to all, regardless of background.
PAT CLARK, JOHN DAVIES, NICK JONES, SUSAN MORGAN, IAN SPRING and DAVE WYATT
Campaign to Save Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University
Read the letters page here
Looking to Neil
SIR – When the country is mired in the deepest recession in living memory, surely this is the worst possible time for Cardiff University to be gutting its adult education service.
This will denude SE Wales of learning opportunities for adults and lead to the loss of 140 jobs, most of them part-time women tutors.
The outgoing president of Cardiff University is Lord Kinnock, someone who knows how life-changing education can be.
The users and tutors at the Centre for Lifelong Learning are now looking to Lord Kinnock to leave a more positive legacy than a gutted adult education service and mass redundancies in a centre that plays a crucial part in the health and well-being of people in the local community as well as offering access to higher education to all, regardless of background.
PAT CLARK, JOHN DAVIES, NICK JONES, SUSAN MORGAN, IAN SPRING and DAVE WYATT
Campaign to Save Lifelong Learning at Cardiff University
Read the letters page here
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Fight to the end!
We will be holding a demonstration from 4.15 to 5pm outside the University Main College Building on 27th July.
On 27th July Cardiff University Council will be meeting to decide whether or not to accept proposals to end the teaching of humanities and Welsh in the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning.
PLEASE come and show your support. It is thanks to all the people involved in the campaign that we have made the University look again at these proposals. A good turn out on the 27th will show Council the strength of feeling against these proposals.
We MUST not let them do this to our University.
Save Our Subjects - Save Lifelong Learning
On 27th July Cardiff University Council will be meeting to decide whether or not to accept proposals to end the teaching of humanities and Welsh in the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning.
PLEASE come and show your support. It is thanks to all the people involved in the campaign that we have made the University look again at these proposals. A good turn out on the 27th will show Council the strength of feeling against these proposals.
We MUST not let them do this to our University.
Save Our Subjects - Save Lifelong Learning
Monday, 13 July 2009
Open Meeting Reminder
Just a reminder that we have an open meeting at the Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning on Tuesday 14 July, 7pm, in room M/1.02.
Leanne Wood A.M. has promised to come and speak.
Campaign members will report on recent events including our lobby of the Welsh Assembly, the latest deputation to the University Council, and recent consultations with management.
We will also discuss how to move the campaign forward, now that we are in the final stages.
Leanne Wood A.M. has promised to come and speak.
Campaign members will report on recent events including our lobby of the Welsh Assembly, the latest deputation to the University Council, and recent consultations with management.
We will also discuss how to move the campaign forward, now that we are in the final stages.
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