University of Roehampton Possibly “Closing” Philosophy
The University of Roehampton in London is one of several UK universities that have recently announced budget-related closures of programs and the laying off of faculty, including, reportedly, in philosophy.
Times Higher Ed reports that at Roehampton, “226 academics have been notified that their jobs are at risk in what the university called a ‘strategic realignment’ that will see cuts to its philosophy, anthropology, Classics and creative writing programmes.”
Lia Betti, a senior lecturer in evolutionary anthropology at Roehampton, tweeted that the university is “closing Anthropology, Philosophy, Classics, Creating Writing, and several other programmes,” and concentrating on “developing programmes with practical skills and industry/employer engagements.” She adds, “this is effectively dismantling what had become one of the best modern universities in the region. It’s heartbreaking.”
The situation for philosophy there is rather bad. Tom O’Shea, a senior lecturer in philosophy at Roehampton, tweeted:
Awful news from work. The entire philosophy team has been sent letters telling us we’re at risk of redundancy and will have to reapply for a reduced number of worse roles. Other disciplines being completely axed.
It is not clear whether the philosophy program at Roehampton, which includes undergraduate programs and an MA program, will continue.
To my knowledge, no particular administrator at Roehampton has taken responsibility for devising this plan, nor, as usual, taken any responsibility for any mismanagement which may have contributed to its alleged necessity.
So grim. This department does great work with working class students, and has some really good philosophers.
If I remember correctly Middlesex London shut down its philosophy department some years ago, but enabled its faculty to move to Roehampton. Now they are closing it, too. That’s the tenure system in the UK and how “well” it protects academics
Middlesex moved to either Sussex or Kent, not roehampton although possibly some staff ended up at Roehampton.
Middlesex moved to Kingston.
You might be thinking of Heythrop College. There was talk of a merger with Roehampton, which never happened, but some staff moved over when Heythrop closed.
This is very bad news indeed, for both faculty and students. Just to say that the British Philosophical Association is in touch with colleagues at Roehampton, as we were when they were last threatened. We will work with them and academic union representatives as appropriate to fight this as much as we can.
Simon Kirchin, BPA Director