Students condemn cuts to media course at Birmingham City University
Jul 8 2010 by Nick McCarthy, Birmingham Post
Students at Birmingham City University have condemned planned job cuts at its top-rated media department.
The students claim that up to 30 per cent of staff at the Skillset-accredited institution face redundancy over the next year, in its bid to save £230,000.
The university did not comment on the scale of the planned cuts, but said cutbacks were needed to “safeguard the university’s financial sustainability.”
An online campaign against cuts has been formed, which includes a petition and Facebook group.
Adam Stewart, a recent web and new media graduate, said: “These cuts will affect the learning experience dramatically
“Not only will there be a higher student-to-staff ratio (and therefore less one-on-one time and correspondence with the lecturers), but there will be a downsizing of available degree programmes and a drop in teaching quality for those that remain.”
“This is unfair all round for the current students, the lecturers and support staff, and those who hope to start their studies this September.”
Media academics and industry professionals have also leapt to the school’s defence, as have its former students.
A spokeswoman for Birmingham City University said: “Change is now being implemented throughout the university as we plan for our financial future as a direct result of the challenging public sector funding environment.
“This is a continuous process and each announcement by the Government will have a direct impact on the university.
“Birmingham City University’s activities and services are currently being reviewed to ensure that they can be delivered within the reduced resources available and we are seeking to reduce costs in a way that will minimise impact on students.
“This course of action is necessary to safeguard the university’s financial sustainability. The Birmingham School of Media is ranked fifth in The Guardian‘s 2011 university league table for media, communications and librarianship.
It makes Birmingham City University (BCU) the top post-1992 university for this subject and gives the university its highest placing on any league tables.
Alumni include television presenter Kirsten O’Brien, BBC WM’s Phil Upton, and sports reporter Mary Rhodes.
