End Unjust Redundancies

I feel sorry for our History colleagues and for all the staff employed on teaching only contracts, but also disappointed by UCU. This History Department should not even dream of being able to carry out such an unfair culling of staff, and would not, if we had a union branch determined to really fight for the work conditions of its members.

Sad to see our colleagues in History not being valued as they deserve.

Alessandro, Adela, and Simon have made me a historian, and I am far from alone in the privilege of saying that. As intellectuals, teachers, and friends, they are without peer.

I strongly condemn University College London's unjust decision to dismiss several esteemed staff from the History Department unfairly. This move not only deprives the department of its most valuable educators but also jeopardizes the institution's future academic integrity and reputation.

I vehemently oppose University College London’s egregious decision to dismiss numerous distinguished professors from the History Department unfaithfully. This action not only strips the department of its most valuable educators but also endangers the future academic integrity and repute of the institution. The quality of teaching and research that has been a hallmark of UCL History, and has significantly contributed to its global standing, is directly attributable to the efforts and expertise of these academics. Dismissing these scholars undermines the very foundation upon which UCL’s esteemed reputation was built. This decision is an affront to the department's legacy and marks a distressing shift towards a future where UCL History could devolve into a lesser-funded, lesser-valued faculty, notable only for its geographic location in London. This is a stark contrast to the leadership and vision exemplified by previous heads, such as Stephen Conway, under whose guidance such a regression would have been unthinkable. We demand an immediate reversal of these layoffs and call for a restoration of the department's commitment to excellence and scholarly distinction. Anything less is unacceptable and betrays the trust and investment of the student body and academic community. This is not merely a reduction in staff; it is a direct attack on the quality and standing of our educational experience and the historical prestige of UCL.

Solidarity to History staff facing this stress; teaching is a core function of the unversity and teaching staff shouldn't be treated as disposal but valued and developed. I hope that every one of you gets redeployed to suitable alternative employment.

This is the most outrageous decision to be taken by this corrupt university in my time here. I have been taught by Alessandro DiArcangelis, Tom Penfold, and Joe Cozens, as well as Adela Halo being my personal tutor. I won't go into the uniquely wonderful qualities of these individuals, other testimonials can speak to this; but know it is these PEOPLE who have been the shining light for me in an institution, like many around the country, that constantly appears to prioritise profits over the university population - and it these people that are apparently on the chopping block. It is only the passion and care taken by select individuals such as these that makes this money sucking machine worthwhile. It is so typically indicative of the university's complete ignorance of the student voice that these professors, who are the most loved by the students within the department, are the ones under threat of redundancy. The fact that only students within the history department will understand the gravity of this decision is probably the reason the uni will get away with this, as per, but this stinks of something much worse than these putative budget cuts.. I implore anyone who sees this petition to at least sign and share it to other students. It is a gross and frankly bizarre injustice that those who put the most into our education are those who get the worst treatment from those above them, who are clearly no more than miserly bureaucratic suits without a lick of interest in educating the youth. Let's try our best to preserve the last vestiges of decent education left in this country, please.

Had I not been studying at a History department with such a breadth of knowledge and willingness to learn more, I wouldn't be the author I am today. It is sickening to hear that such valuable and talented academics are losing their jobs - not just for them, but for the prospects of the students they won't get to teach.

As an alum of the UCL History Department, I'm shocked and saddened to hear of the staff being treated in this manner. UCL management have never really understood their "business", but it has only gotten worse over the years. This precarity must end!

In solidarity

Given the current mess everything is in due to a lot of lessons from history either forgotten or not learned, we need more history teaching, not less, and I would expect UCL to be wanting to be at the forefront of this. After all this is the basis for the much hailed "disruptive thinking" and something where I'd expect UCL management to happily put their money where their mouth is.

End the austerity death spiral

Sadly, part of a wide-scale demolition of our HE system - solidarity from Lincoln who are also being sliced and diced!

I have been engaged with the various branches of UCL history over 40 years and as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society have been able to access the excellent library facilities. I am appalled that the current management would want to gut such a fine institution.

As an alumnus of the History department I am appalled by this news. Solidarity to all thise affected, staff and students.

There should be plenty of opportunity to use the staff who have clearly discharged their functions well and meet student needs. Dismissing staff will burden existing staff and eventually tell on the learning of History students at UCL.

Why are there no ANCIENT HISTORY modules for an ANCIENT HISTORY student to choose from…….smacks of false-advertising!!!

This is an absolute travesty. History as an academic subject thrives given the diversity of teaching staff. The very idea of ‘redundancies’ are repugnant and reeks of corporatist motivations which have no place in academia.

Too good to loose.

I understand that sometimes difficult cuts need to be made when the budget is too small. But you also need to factor in the quality of those being made redundant, and question why you're cutting them in particular. I have been taught by Jack for my first and third years, and I am very disappointed to hear he's at risk of redundancy, when he is genuinely one of the best tutors I've had at UCL. He's never failed to make class engaging, and is brilliant at promoting discussion in seminars and ensuring everyone joins in and is comfortable to speak. This is a rare skill at UCL, when seminars can often be largely silent and awkward, with students failing to engage and speak up. Jack's are the opposite, and therefore some of the best seminars I've had at UCL. It will be a huge mistake to remove such an asset from the department.