Stop the cuts at Kingston University

In April, Kingston University announced the closure to new applicants of its BA Politics, Human Rights, International Relations courses, the final closure of its BA History course, and proposed severe staffing cuts in Media and Communications and Film Studies. This represents a concerted attack on the provision of social sciences, arts and humanities at Kingston. The university has given notice that up to 55 staff members are at risk of redundancy.

The course closures and job losses in these subjects follow a catalogue of poor management decisions in the organisation and marketing of courses over the last four years. Academic staff have repeatedly been sidelined and overruled when they warned of the negative impact of management decisions. Now teaching quality, student experience, staff workloads and wellbeing are all threatened by the proposed job cuts. Continuity of supervision for postgraduate students has also been put at risk.

Undergraduate courses in the Politics department were closed to new applicants without prior warning or consultation with affected staff or their trade union representatives. Those applicants holding places for September have been turned away. This is despite the university having already recruited foundation students it has committed to teach for the next three years. The pre-emptive move to close courses means staff have been presented with a fait accompli, and management has failed to engage in meaningful consultation about the future of these subjects.

The threat of redundancy comes despite the exceptional efforts of staff in teaching and supporting students during the pandemic. The courses targeted at Kingston are part of a wider attack on the humanities, social sciences and arts, particularly in post-92 universities, that will dramatically narrow student choice, access, and participation in these critical subject areas. This would undermine Kingston’s commitment to widening participation and reduce student and staff diversity in the affected departments.

Kingston staff and students have mobilised to resist these cuts and show solidarity with those facing similar attacks across the sector. Please support us by signing and sharing this petition, writing directly to the VC and Board of Governors at Kingston University ( s.spier@kingston.ac.ukKU-Secretariat@kingston.ac.uk ) using this template letter, supporting the student-led campaigns and following our campaigns on Twitter: @kingstonucu @uni_kingston @savekupolitics. Instagram: @savekingstonuni @savekupolitics. Web: https://kingston.web.ucu.org.uk/ Share with: #SaveKingstonUni #saveKUpolitics #saveKUhistory #saveKUmedia #saveKUfilm

We call upon Kingston University to halt with immediate effect these cuts and closures, reinstate all suspended courses, remove the threat of redundancies, and commit to maintain current staffing numbers.

Stop the cuts at Kingston University

This petition is now closed. Thank you for your support.

End date: Jul 11, 2022

Signatures collected: 756

756 signatures

Signed:
756
Martyn Agass
ACS International School, Cobham 
755
Tom Vaughan
University of Exeter 
754
James Ressel
 
753
Yasmine Griffiths-Williams
Cardiff 
752
Keith Reader
University of London Institute in Paris (but formerly Kingston) 
751
Paul Watt
Birkbeck, University of London 
750
Sezen Kizilgul Kartal
City and Islington College 
749
Megan Tremain
Upminster 
748
Lucy Robinson
747
Marika Farrugia
Hendon school 
746
Emily Collins
University of Sussex 
745
Kevin Malone
University of Manchester 
744
Katharina Pruente
University of Stirling 
743
Ben Pope
University of Manchester 
742
David Burke
Bath Spa University 
741
Simon Stevenson
University of Washington  
740
Cedric Marcel Butz
Lower Saxony, Germany 
739
Adam Jones
Kingston University 
738
Carlus Hudson
university of portsmouth 
737
Tracey Hylton
Select A State 
736
Jo Crockett
West Sussex 
735
Deborah Sugg Ryan
University of Portsmouyj  
734
Naomi Waltham-Smith
University of Warwick 
733
Adam Matthews
University of Birmingham 
732
Ross Balzaretti
Nottinghamshire 
731
Aadita Chaudhury
Goldsmiths  
730
Steven Brown
Nottingham Trent University  
729
Martin Dewey-Findell
University of Nottingham  
728
Liz Morrish
York St John University  
727
Anastasia Cowley
South Yorkshire 
726
Marianna Ivanova
 
725
Craig Brandist
South Yorkshire 
724
Tim Cockrell
University of Sheffield 
723
Matteo Bormetti
University of Sheffield 
722
Laura Povoledo
UWE 
721
Sam Garwood
University of Sheffield 
720
Sam Marsh
University of Sheffield 
719
Peter Gurney
University of Essex 
718
Claire Field
 
717
Clair Sharpe
University of Liverpool 
716
Christina Butler
Kingston University 
715
Jonathan Worton
University of Chester 
714
Nick Bentley
Keele University 
713
Jussi Palmusaari
King’s College London 
712
Ruth Ballardie
University of Greenwich 
711
gabriel moyal
ON 
710
Marcus Bull
Kingston University 
709
sharmistha chaudhuri
Kingston University  
708
Emma Campbell
Scotland 
707
Ayub Abdi
Edgware  
706
Paul Jackson
University of Northampton  
705
Lindsay Bywood
University of Westminster 
704
Klaudia Kupiec
Hertfordshire 
703
Michael McAloon
 
702
denise thompson
kingston 
701
Christoph Lueder
London 
700
Kathy Grant
retired UNISON rep at St Mary's University 
699
Wolfgang Pöckl
Institut für Translationswissenschaft, University of Innsbruck  
698
Daniel Valles
University of Glasgow 
697
Charles Ferguson
Working from home 
696
Keith Llewellin
Home 
695
Dorothy Chen
UCL 
694
Sara Crangle
University of Sussex 
693
Matthew Parker
Metropolitan Police Service, KU Alumni 
692
Lara Rettondini
 
691
Louise Calton
 
690
Lito Ntourou
pharmacy  
689
Siobhan Hyland
Self employed  
688
Liz Stainforth
County (optional) 
687
Jorge Diaz-Cintas
London 
686
Louise Batcb
Kingston University Alumni 
685
Mick Ekers
University of Essex  
684
Nicola King
Portsmouth  
683
Milica Stanisic
KU alumni  
682
Lee Reavill
Plenty Digital  
681
Marie Diamond
Herne bay 
680
Matthew Dilworth
Freelance video editor 
679
David Berrie
Goldsmiths university 
678
Michelle Leung
Hong Kong 
677
Alex Nicholas
Essex 
676
Michael Burns
Teacher 
675
Midath Hayder
University of Sussex 
674
Jeremy Hein
Retired teacher 
673
Christopher Wilkinson
Kingston University  
672
Talia Blackford-Cooper
 
671
Cllr Aston Line
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council 
670
Martine Hein
Retired 
669
Roy Perkins
Reired Kingston University lecturer. 
668
Michael Chanan
 
667
Cathy Bergin
University of Brighton 
666
Zoe Sutherland
 
665
Eley Williams
London 
664
Svenn-Arve Myklebost
Volda University College 
663
Alissa Clarke
De Montfort University 
662
Vicky Lebeau
Sussex 
661
Meg Lonergan
Carleton University 
660
Anna Sborgi
The University of Genoa 
659
Lucy Santos
London 
658
Joshua Bond
Morrisons  
657
Julia Hartviksen
University of Brighton 
656
Alex Alvarez Taylor
Complutense University of Madrid, Department of Philosophy and Society 
655
Derek Gamble
Self employed IT Consultant 
654
L. Jowett
Northampton  
653
Kim Akass
Rowan University 
652
Chris Louttit
Radboud University 
651
Tom Bunyard
University of Brighton 
650
Josephine Botting
BFI 
649
Peta Bulmer
University of Liverpool 
648
elliott spriggs
Kingston University 
647
Julie Detheridge
Caludon Castle School 
646
Victoria Margree
University of Brighton 
645
Regina Hansen
Boston University 
644
Dionysis Kapsaskis
University of Roehampton 
643
Joanne Abbott
Theberge school 
642
Lisa Robinson
School teacher 
641
Ian Coomber
 
640
Charlotte Bosseaux
University of Edinburgh 
639
Debora Mo
 
638
Caroline Bainbridge
Merseyside 
637
Laura Sava
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University 
636
Bertha Chin
Swinburne University of Technology 
635
Kyla de Sousa
 
634
David Chapman
UEL 
633
Keith McDonald
York st john University 
632
Janet McCabe
Birkbeck, university of London  
631
Helen Savage
East Yorkshire 
630
Jackie Thompson
Cambridge Regional College  
629
Bethan Jones
Cardiff University 
628
Johnny Walker
Tyne and Wear 
627
Liam Dunn
London 
626
Lindsay Hallam
University of East London  
625
Rebecca Warriner-white
NHS 
624
William Brown
University of Roehampton 
623
Steve Jones
Northumbria University  
622
Andrew Rutherford
 
621
Jennifer Plant
The Hundred of Hoo Academy 
620
Peter Hill
Northumbria University 
619
Bill Hughes
Cheshire 
618
Rianna Husein
Kingston  
617
Tim Martin
UAL: LCC 
616
David West
 
615
Caitlin Shaw
University of Hertfordshire 
614
Ash Harkin
 
613
Cynthia Burkhead
University of North Alabama  
612
Daisy Richards
De Montfort University 
611
David Kociemba
Massachusetts 
610
Katherine Farrimond
University of Sussex 
609
Felicity Gee
Exeter University 
608
Louis Bayman
University of Southampton 
607
Tom Watson
Teesside University 
606
Michael Starr
University of Northampton 
605
Ben Little
UEA 
604
Shelley Cobb
University of Southampton  
603
Jane Kinsella
 
602
Tracey Mollet
University of Leeds 
601
Jane Garrett
Edinburgh university  
600
Laura Mee
 
599
Paul Sutton
City Lit 
598
Janet Halfyard
Royal conservatoire of Scotland  
597
Catherine Pugh
 
596
Professor Rachel Moseley
University of Warwick 
595
Samantha Booy
 
594
Karen Myers
England 
593
Neil Ewen
University of Exeter  
592
Craig Mann
Sheffield Hallam University 
591
Lisa Purse
University of Reading 
590
John Atkinson
University of Liverpool  
589
Leanne Weston
University of Warwick 
588
CATHERINE LESTER
Warwickshire 
587
Helen Wood
Lancaster University  
586
George Clayton
University for the Creative Arts 
585
Louis Earle
England 
584
Kate Egan
Northumbria University  
583
Helen Wheatley
University of Warwick 
582
Portia Ungley
University of Cambridge 
581
Io Frost
 
580
David Simmons
University of Northampton 
579
Duncan Gillies
 
578
Ginny Macpherson
Primary svhool 
577
Sergio Angelini
Ealing 
576
Sheldon Hall
South Yorkshire 
575
Alex Edwards
Media and communications ba(hons) student @ Kingston University 
574
Pete Robins
Middlesex 
573
Ewa Balazinska
Collegium Civitas/ Kingston alumna 
572
Annalisa Hayes
 
571
Stella Chapman
Kingston  
570
Gwyneth WEBBERLEY
Hertfordshire 
569
Noha Mellor
Surrey 
568
Anastasia Christou
Middlesex University  
567
Dominic Alexander
Barnet and Southgate College 
566
Connie Ashford
Kingston University  
565
Iveta Pudilova
West Midlands 
564
Danielle Cunnington
Kingston Uni 
563
natalie fitch
London 
562
Rebekah Knight
Kingston 
561
Sarah Shillingford
County (optional) 
560
Orla Jordan
 
559
Ivan Reid
County (optional) 
558
Elly Lord-Hatton
Kingston University  
557
Patrycja Micek
Kingston University 
556
Nina Hacker
Kingston University 
555
Sarah Devaney
Kingston University 
554
Rosie Gate
Kingston University Student  
553
Bug Shepherd-Barron
Kingston 
552
Wendy Vaizey
Hertfordshire 
551
Chloe Wallace
University of Leeds 
550
Kelly DeSantis
 
549
Jess White
 
548
craig johnston
dundee 
547
Elinor Taylor
University of Westminster  
546
Bahir Laattoe
Barnet NEU 
545
Stewart McCain
St Mary's University 
544
Kirsty Algar
Surrey 
543
Ryan Bridgewater
Kingston University Politics & IR Alumni 
542
Nabina Mitra
Kingston University 
541
Sally Matthews
Bodleian Library 
540
Zoe Groves
County 
539
Sue Hawkins
Molesey 
538
Mauro Pucheta
Kingston University 
537
Nikolas Gunn
University of Oxford 
536
Timos Almpanis
Kingston University 
535
Dominic Dalglish
University of Oxford 
534
Shantel George
University of Glasgow 
533
Jenny Alexander
Dorset 
532
Paula Kirby
Self-employed 
531
Emma Kennedy
University of Greenwich 
530
Russell Martin
Westminster College  
529
Rohan Rice
Kingston 
528
Brian Cathcart
Kingston University London 
527
Russell Ward
Norfolk 
526
Anna Babin Morgan
London 
525
James Munson
Kingston University 
524
Nicola Gatt
Lewisham  
523
Panikos Panayi
Leicestershire 
522
Jana Scholze
Select 
521
Jemma McDermott
Doncaster Secondary School 
520
David Cooper
Surrey 
519
Kyren Burns
Buckinghamshire 
518
Fatima Felisberti
Kingston University London  
517
Robin Pettitt
Kingston University - London 
516
Anna Paolillo
 
515
Clare Lovell
Kingston University  
514
Tracey Coates
London 
513
Marina Isaac
Kingston University 
512
Gemma Shearman
Kingston University 
511
Marion Winters
GB 
510
Frances Grahl
London 
509
Tushna Vandrevala
Surrey 
508
Matthew Wells
Kingston University 
507
Eleanor Suess
Surrey 
506
Andrew Clements
Coventry university 
505
Simon Jackson
University of Birmingham, History Dept 
504
John-Patrick Hartnett
--SELECT-- 
503
Julianne Regan
Bath Spa University 
502
Helen Black
London 
501
Jennifer Honey
Portsmouth University 
500
Marina McCready
Kingston 
499
Charlotte Boyce
University of Portsmouth  
498
Caroline Kay
 
497
Philip Shaw
University of Leicester  
496
Marina Vishmidt
Goldsmiths, University of London 
495
Ben Fulford
University of Chester 
494
Pardina Samson-Fessale
 
493
Nicolai Due-Gundersen
 
492
Helen Worsley
Freelance actor 
491
Eddie Little
Retired 
490
Monica Rivas
London 
489
Roberto Veneziani
Queen Mary University of London 
488
James Kneale
UCL 
487
Marion Harding
London 
486
Andrew Hawke
Ceredigion 
485
Andrew Feeney
Tyne and Wear 
484
Christian Newby
Kingston University 
483
Lucas Van Milders
University of Groningen 
482
Claire Hurley
Kent University  
481
Sara Belkadi
Teddington sixth form 
480
Emma Rixon
 
479
Judy Price
Kingston school of art 
478
Jo Brewis
The Open Universy 
477
Chris Henry
University of Kent 
476
Kim BARD
Hampshire 
475
Jonathan Seglow
Royal Holloway, University of London 
474
Keith Cushley
 
473
Elaine Cushley
 
472
Sylvia Marsh
 
471
David Cunningham
University of Westminster 
470
Ersi Ioannidou
Kingston University  
469
Simon Paton
Birmingham City University 
468
Clare Willison
Kent 
467
Jo-ann Lloyd
West Midlands 
466
Shaun Cushley
Kingston University 
465
Nick Clifton
Kingston University (PGR) 
464
Eamonn O'Kane
University of Wolverhampton 
463
Tom Sharkey
Canterbury Christ Church University  
462
Demetris Tillyris
Canterbury Christ Church University 
461
Charlotte Warne Thomas
Kingston University (Techne) 
460
Paul Anderson
Canterbury Christ Church University  
459
Peter Eckersley
Nottingham Trent University 
458
Laura Cashman
Canterbury Christ Church University 
457
David Bates
Canterbury Christ Church University 
456
Ashley Dodsworth
University of Bristol 
455
Jon Hackett
St Mary's University 
454
Lucy Tauber
London/Greater London 
453
Sarah Joss
Heriot-Watt 
452
John Russell
Please select 
451
Denham De Alwis Denham
Bristol  
450
Bronwen Price
Hants 
449
Charis Osbourne
 
448
Anne O Brien
Maynooth University  
447
Caitlin McCullough
East Sussex 
446
Sharon Young
Kingston Council 
445
Aisling O'Beirn
Ulster University 
444
Elaine Chalus
University of Liverpool 
443
Eoin Flaherty
Maynooth University 
442
Aifric Campbell
Imperial College  
441
Rosamund Paice
Alnwick  
440
David Tinham
 
439
Natalie Chan
Creative Youth  
438
Ann Hutchinson
England 
437
Robin Hutchinson
Surrey 
436
Stuart Oliver
St Mary's University 
435
Donna Brown
RHUL 
434
Tahera Aziz
London South Bank University 
433
Jill Eastland
 
432
Michael Searby
Kingston University 
431
Elias Raison
Kingston  
430
Holly Antrum
Kingston University (in partnership with British Film Institute) 
429
Thomas O'Brien
University of York 
428
Charlene Strouth
 
427
Mike Roberts
Retired DoS Kingston 
426
Heather Oldfield
 
425
Elyse Brown
Homemaker 
424
Keith Hallam
University of Bristol 
423
Julia Canas Martinez
University College Dublin 
422
Lacotea Stansbury
Cheshire 
421
Adriana Eysler
UCU-UAL 
420
Christopher Harker
Surrey 
419
Jan Dobbernack
Newcastle University 
418
Dawn Llewellyn
Cheshire 
417
Alison Phipps
Sussex University  
416
Gina Keithley
 
415
Nina Thompson
UCL  
414
Tom Whittaker
University of Warwick 
413
Amanda Makin
NHS 
412
Catherine Webb
London 
411
Jamie Christie
Surrey 
410
Chris Cumberpatch
Freelance 
409
Kevin Biderman
RCA 
408
Tanveer Ahmed
Open University 
407
Untza Sale
London 
406
Ian Hague
University of the Arts London 
405
Laura Gordon
Royal College of Art, London 
404
Andrew Curley
Kingston University 
403
Martin Anthony
LSE  
402
Hannah Quirk
King's College London 
401
Melissa Buck
Kingston University 
400
Eamon McDonnell
Goldsmiths University 
399
Andrew Dick
London 
398
Nabil Meskaoui
Northeastern University 
397
Fadi Alameddine
Methodist  
396
Ajay Hothi
Kingston University 
395
Sarah Carter-Walshaw
University of Leeds 
394
Dawn Amesbury
University of Leeds 
393
Tarek Hakim
American University of Beirut 
392
Lucy Parker
Independant Filmmaker 
391
Helen Christy-Jones
St George’s Hospital  
390
Karim Meskaoui
Liverpool university  
389
Zéna Meskaoui
Lebanese American University -Lebanon  
388
Nada Hakim
Lebanon 
387
Alex Nightingale
King's College London 
386
James Wilkes
Bangor University  
385
Paddy Molloy
Kingston University 
384
James Miller
London 
383
Helena Bonett
Dorich House Museum, Kingston University 
382
Sian Loxston
Kingston University  
381
Brian Montague
None 
380
Jonas Berthod
Kingston School of Art 
379
Katherine Appleford
 
378
Michael Scott
Dublin City University 
377
Biddy Scott. B.A. Social Science. B.A. Art History; M.A. Art History
Wicklow 
376
Angie Denman
 
375
Anna Bull
 
374
Cassie Newland
Bath Spa University  
373
Jess Baines
University of the Arts London 
372
Nina Mickwitz
University of the Arts London 
371
Elaine Swan
London 
370
Dawn Wilson
University of Hull  
369
Ria Deakin
Manchester Metropolitan University  
368
Miranda Kaufmann
Institute of Commonwealth Studies 
367
Katherine Sang
Scotland 
366
Keith Wilson
University of Oslo 
365
Felicity Callard
University of Glasgow 
364
Lucila Antillon
National Commission of Human Rights in Mexico  
363
Adam Parker
 
362
Chanelle Field
Kingston university 
361
Charlie Mhrnhy
Londom 
360
Sonali Shah
City, University of London  
359
Dr Tom Hall
University of Surrey 
358
roger sabin
ual 
357
Alexandra Jones
Middlesex 
356
Wendy Kirkland
 
355
Tessa Wright
Queen Mary University of London 
354
Janet Geary
Ex London Metropolitan University 
353
Ian Horton
Cambridgeshire 
352
Sonia Mckay
Visiting professor university of Greenwich 
351
Sergio Saboya
Benteler Automotive 
350
Jeremy Nuttall
Kingston University 
349
Alex Fletcher
Royal College of Art 
348
Sarah Hellawell
Tyne and Wear 
347
Jess Tansley
Surrey 
346
Russell Christie
Brunel University 
345
Elisa Adami
Kingston University 
344
Belles Morellini
self employed  
343
Beth Morse
Kingston  
342
Ika Schwander
 
341
Christopher Gray
Unite 
340
Frances Scott
 
339
Geraldine Gray
WMC 
338
Leonie Hermsen
Self employed  
337
Paul Schwander
Netherlands 
336
Helen Wickstead
Kingston University, London 
335
Ann Dolan
 
334
Rosie McNiece
 
333
Carmen Rabalska
Kingston University 
332
Sharon Duce
England 
331
Josie Owen
Kingston University  
330
Sonya S.
 
329
Melissa Little
Kingston University  
328
Silvia Olvera
England 
327
Bless Thakur
Mumbai 
326
Miriam Gill
Leicester Vaughan College, ICE Cambridge,  
325
Kay Pollock
Retired Kingston University  
324
Alex Loveless
University of West London  
323
Andy Jordan
Freelance 
322
Lyn Porteous
Kingston University 
321
Gabriela Gregory
Surbiton 
320
Berenika Gray-Lyons
 
319
Aylwyn Walsh
West Yorkshire 
318
Eva Manticova
 
317
Tarnya Wickens
 
316
Lucia Savi
V&A  
315
Lauren Warner
Kingston University  
314
Carla Linford
University of Lincoln 
313
Molly Bergin
NHS 
312
Alistair Wood
Greater London 
311
Jamie Wheeler-Roberts
 
310
Judith Gao
Kingston School of Art 
309
Maria Mencia
KingstonUni  
308
Rosie Jones
London  
307
Rosie Jones
London  
306
Charlie Newton
Kingston University/College 
305
Henrike Neuhaus
Goldsmiths, University of London, Associate Lecturer 
304
John Gray
 
303
Carole White
Surrey 
302
Sally Warwick-Haller
Retired university lecturer 
301
Fiona Adamson
SOAS 
300
Devaki Amin
Heston Community School 
299
Freya Houghton
 
298
Mark Pendleton
The University of Sheffield  
297
Patricia Platinetti
 
296
Rajni Mattiussi
Kingston University 
295
Tatiane Depieri
 
294
Emily Patterson
Kingston college 
293
Emily Dawson
Kingston University Alumni and Former Student Ambassador (KSA) 
292
Robert White
Kingston University 
291
Lilliana Garcia
Warehouse  
290
Charlotte Swan
Kingston university  
289
Dean Inwood
Berkshire 
288
Carl Cullinane
 
287
Rahul Rao
SOAS University of London 
286
Quba Sofia Brown-Higgins
Kingston University  
285
Frederic Clavien
Regent's University London 
284
Noelle Brick
 
283
Charlotte Bence
 
282
Anna Macleod
 
281
Patrick Tatarian
Kingston University Alumni & former Students' Union Sabbatical Officer (Roehampton Vale Campus) 
280
Ryan Burns
University of Brighton  
279
Judy Anderson
 
278
Bartosz Janos
277
Joshua Cudworth
 
276
MARIANA BIAGIO
London 
275
Natasha Ball
Surrey 
274
Antonia Bright
SOAS staff 
273
Thomas Hanley
City, University of London  
272
Yasemin Gava
 
271
Sabrina Loubiere
London 
270
andrea rinke
Surrey 
269
Joshua Eagle
Surrey  
268
Dylan Geurts
 
267
Deborah Kemp
Retired teacher 
266
Edith Molmans Ligtvoet
Schouwburg cuijk  
265
Marjolein Ligtvoet-Molmans
The Netherlands 
264
Gabriella Maldonado
Kingston University  
263
Karin Rueck
 
262
Steven Carver
Freelance film editor  
261
Donald Sassoon
Prof. Emeritus, Queen Mary, University of London 
260
Janice Norwood
University of Hertfordshire 
259
Eylül Oguz
Kingston University  
258
Jade Reynolds
Kingston University  
257
Amélie Gourdon-Kanhukamwe
Kingston upon Thames