Bournemouth University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor gets vote of ‘no confidence’

A staff union at BU has backed a vote of no confidence in one of the university's most senior leaders, its Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tim McIntyre-Bhatty.

In early August, it was revealed that the uni was planning to close some of its best-known courses, and as a consequence make many members of staff redundant under their plans to 'grow other areas of work'.

International Hospitality, Advertising, Public Relations, Retail Management, Law and Events Management degrees were some of those in question that were set to be axed in the review of all departments.

A strategy suggested that the uni needed a drastic change to become better equipped.

Fast forward three months, and a uni report has since been leaked to the Daily Echo after it had been revealed to the branch executive of the University and College Union (UCU), but before it had been passed to union members.

Following this, a meeting of the UCU has voted for a motion declaring no confidence in Tim McIntyre-Bhatty.

The executive team of Bournemouth University have received a letter accusing them of “carrying out managerial decisions in a clandestine manner”.

The letter also said that the executive team have been “continually acting in ways that have led to demoralisation, distrust and deception” and that “morale amongst staff has reached an unacceptably low level”.

In contrast with this, other courses have been identified for 'growth', including executive education, a degree for police constables, business management and nursing.

The uni has announced a 90-day consultation over redundancies – the UCU has taken this as a warning that 100 staff or more are at risk of losing their jobs.

The UCU states that several decisions made by the deputy vice chancellor have “unarguably constructed a climate of fear and uncertainty at Bournemouth University" and that this has "led to the institution receiving negative press that might well have had an impact on student recruitment”.

A statement from the university read: “The letter conflates a number of issues, inaccurately reports discussions that have already taken place with UCU and attempts to bypass normal governance routes.

"We are committed to continue to engage and consult as required and have discussed this in detail with both Unison and UCU.

"The accusations that BU has not fulfilled its duties are inaccurate.”