As prospective university students get their A-level grades, thousands of lecturers and university staff are getting redundancies. While the sector reels from the effects of Covid-19, the marketisation of higher education has cultivated an industry of insecure and exploited teaching staff who are worked the hardest, and are now being disposed of.
University of Manchester invigilator says he was denied ‘most basic of dignities’ during Covid-19 lockdown
Exam invigilator Steve Hanson reveals the lockdown induced ordeal he has been through at the University of Manchester, and questions why it took over 100 days for invigilators to find out that they were not eligible for any compensation. Steve Hanson has a PhD from Goldsmiths, is a book author about small town austerity Britain, […]
Locked down in Peru: social media mobilisation brings back Manchester student
The journey of a lifetime for Sophie was brought to a grinding halt by the pandemic. She credits a social media campaign for spurring the UK government into action, who had initially failed to offer any support to her and the hundreds of other Britons stranded in Peru. Just three weeks into a six month […]
There’s a reason why you don’t see many black and ethnic minority faces in cultural spaces
Roaa Ali, a research associate at the University of Manchester, investigates the issues around ethnic inequalities in the arts, where BAME people are underrepresented in the creation and consumption of artistic work. Guest article from The Conversation. Have you ever been to the theatre, looked around, and thought about how predominantly white the audience is? […]
Can degrowth steer us towards a sustainable future?
Vincent Liegey is a spokesperson for the degrowth movement, which is investigating and promoting alternatives to our current unsustainable global economic model. A model which is proving disastrous for our climate and environment while creating growing inequality, instability and misery in societies across the world. On a recent visit to Manchester he discussed the myriad […]
Student occupation at University of Manchester ends in commitment to review fossil fuel investments
The University of Manchester has promised to reconsider its fossil fuel investments, in response to a successful occupation by student activists highlighting the University’s extensive investments in the fossil fuel industry. Pressure applied by environmental campaigners has led to the University of Manchester committing to review its fossil fuel investment portfolio after students staged a […]
Former UN special rapporteur says city development should ‘create landscapes for life, not landscapes for rent’
Professor Raquel Rolnik, a former UN special rapporteur, condemned the financialisation of housing provision in cities across the world, which she says is responsible for rising rents, increasing evictions and homelessness in many countries. Rolnik says neoliberal economic philosophy underpins this radical change in housing provision, which is failing to provide housing to those most […]
Lemn Sissay on his new memoir ‘My Name Is Why’
Lemn Sissay, award-winning and internationally acclaimed poet, was stolen from his birth mother and given to a foster family. He was thrown out by his foster parents at the age of 12 and sent to several children’s homes. He has written a memoir to tell his story of loss and healing, and he spoke to […]
School climate strike to hit Manchester – backed by 12 local academics
A school climate strike, a call to action against the climate crisis started by one young Swedish girl, is set to hit Manchester tomorrow as well as more than 50 other towns and cities in the UK. The action has received the backing of 224 academics, 12 of whom are from the University of Manchester, […]
Manchester says no to Balfour Declaration Centenary Celebration
The Balfour Declaration centenary ‘celebrations’ opened in Manchester on All Hallows’ Eve against a backdrop of mass protests. The centenary event, part of the “Balfour 100” tribute, and attended by Israeli ambassador Mark Regev, was switched to the Hilton hotel by the organisers after University of Manchester students found out that Whitworth Hall at the […]