A STAFF union at Bournemouth University has backed a vote of no confidence in a senior leader following a row about the closure of courses.

The Daily Echo revealed in August that the university was planning to shut some of its best-known courses and make staff redundant, while growing other areas of its work. Full story here

A university report was 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.

An extraordinary meeting of the UCU has since voted unanimously for a motion declaring no confidence in the university’s deputy vice-chancellor, Tim McIntyre-Bhatty.

A letter to the university accuses its executive team of “carrying out managerial decisions in a clandestine manner”. It says the executive team has been “continually acting in ways that have led to demoralisation, distrust and deception” and adds that “morale amongst staff has reached an unacceptably low level”.

As previously revealed, the university plans to axe degree courses including international hospitality, advertising, public relations, retail management and events management.

Other courses are identified for growth, including executive education, a degree for police constables, business management and nursing.

The university announced a 90-day consultation over redundancies, which the UCU took as a signal that 100 staff or more are at risk.

The UCU says several decisions “taken at the behest of Prof McIntyre-Bhatty” have “unarguably constructed a climate of fear and uncertainty at Bournemouth University and led to the institution receiving negative press that might well have had an impact on student recruitment”.

A statement from the university said: “The letter conflates a number of issues, inaccurately reports discussions that have already taken place with UCU and attempts to bypass normal governance routes which we would not expect from a trade union with whom we are endeavouring to work in partnership.

“In developing our new strategic plan, we have engaged and consulted with staff across BU for a number of months. This has included informal and formal consultation with our recognised trade unions. 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.”

It said the deputy vice-chancellor, along with other senior staff, reported to the vice-chancellor, adding: “All members of the university executive team have the full support of the university board in their leadership of BU.”