Durham University Student Social Workers in Solidarity

Solidarity from UEASU with Durham's Social Work students. There is a growing concern nationally with cuts to courses with vast social value. We are currently losing our postgraduate counselling courses - our already strained welfare system will soon be starved of qualifies professionals.

I fully support the students in challenging this decision. Durham has an excellent reputation in social work, nationally and internationally. Social work is more than ever a much needed profession, extending support and solidarity with the community. Dr Kim Robinson Course Director Masters in Social Work, Deakin University Australia

Powerful message from students and critical to drive forward action through a collective voice. #studentvoice

So important to have social work courses based at research focussed universities. It bring quality outcomes for service users.

Social work is a difficult and demanding profession and has always struggled with recruitment and retention of its staff. If Durham were to discontinue the Msw this problem would be further compounded, particularly in the northeast and the status of the profession would equally be affected. Durham's contribution to reasearch in this area is also vitally important and would be a significant loss were the department to close.

We need solid social work courses like Durham to continue.

You cannot silence the voice of the vulnerable!!

Do we now have enough?

Durham University has been making major decisions without due consideration of history and continuity.

We so desperately need good social workers. It seems such an absurd decision to close the Department of Social Work!

Neo-liberalism at its best

In one of the most economically disadvantaged areas of the country it would be good to see that the university values the contribution it's graduates make to improving people's lives. Unfortunately I feel it has already shown it has no such values in closing the Medicine course linked to Teesside

This is a shocking move, particularly given the shortage of social workers with the ability to deal with complex cases was never greater.

The news of these closures has reached Canada.. Surley Durham and the UK need MSW and ISWCDs now more than ever!

This closure is completely wrong

The University's strategy says that it aims to produce 'socially engaged graduates of the highest calibre who enrich society through their employment and role as global citizens'. That's what Durham's Social Work courses do and should be allowed to continue to do.

Social work is arguably the discipline with the highest possible societal impact. We should strengthen Durham's work here not close it down

As director of the Centre for Public Policy and Health in the School of Medicine Pharmacy and Health which is being transferred to Newcastle under a TUPE arrangements to which many of us are deeply opposed I wish to echo my colleague Ted Schrecker's remarks. But why no petition for the repurposing of Queen's Campus which is likely to lead to its eventual closure with a disastrous impact on the local economy in Stockton and across Teesside and why no campaign to keep our School from being moved to Newcastle? All these acts are misconceived, make no sense and will make Durham and the North East all the poorer. It's an outrage that a decisions with these consequences are taken in unaccountable governance structures lacking in transparency. We were poorly consulted on the move to Newcastle and staff who have served at Durham for many years in some cases have been treated with utter contempt and disrespect. Given what is happening to social work this is all part of a pattern initiated by the VC since being appointed.

This seems yet another ill considered and ham-fisted move in a series that started with the precipitous relocation of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health (in which I work) to Newcastle and is proceeding to other acts of academic vandalism.

We really need to keep social work thriving in research-intensive universities