11th October 2012, 08:24 AM
Union officials at the University of Birmingham are to conduct a preliminary ballot on industrial action over the institution's decision to close its archaeology department and make 17 compulsory redundancies across its Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity.
In a statement, the university said it was "clearly not abandoning archaeology" and that a new "Centre for Archaeological Studies", bringing together archaeologists from various units, would "bring a greater focus for the various aspects of archaeological activity at Birmingham". It said that two joint honours courses involving archaeology would also continue to run.
The university also plans to close its contract archaeology unit, claiming it is no longer possible for universities to compete with commercial organisations "while also ensuring that such work generates high-quality research outputs".
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/st...421453&c=1
In a statement, the university said it was "clearly not abandoning archaeology" and that a new "Centre for Archaeological Studies", bringing together archaeologists from various units, would "bring a greater focus for the various aspects of archaeological activity at Birmingham". It said that two joint honours courses involving archaeology would also continue to run.
The university also plans to close its contract archaeology unit, claiming it is no longer possible for universities to compete with commercial organisations "while also ensuring that such work generates high-quality research outputs".
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/st...421453&c=1