Gair Rhydd

Strike Fear

National strikes over pay for lecturers possible as University and Colleges Union ballots members for action

The University and Colleges Union (UCU) have been condemned by students for threatening strike action this summer.

The UCU have asked for an 8% pay rise this year, which has been denounced by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

Students condemn Topshop 'slave labour'

Cardiff University students protest against the high street fashion giant's refusal to join the Ethical Trading Initiative

Students from Cardiff University took part in the labour movements on Queen Street on Friday 1 May to protest against reports of Topshop’s slave labour conditions.

People & Planet, the University’s student campaigning group, joined the anti-globalisation protest for International Labour Day to take action against branches of Topshop all over the UK.

Universities 'ignore' contact time

Russell group Universities, including Cardiff University have come under criticism from The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) for “ignoring” the issue of contact time.

The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) quizzed 2,000 undergraduates on their degree workload, the size of their classes and their contact time with lecturers.

BNP campaign headquarters found in Wales

It has been revealed that the British National Party are using a warehouse in Wales as their campaign headquarters during the run up to next month’s European Parliament election.

Plaid Cymru AM Nerys Evans said: “It is vitally important that everyone who opposes their offensive politics turns out and votes, to send a clear message that the BNP are not welcome here in Wales.”

Universe-ity satellite launch

A satellite that contains vital hardware designed by Cardiff University Professors will be launching into space on Thursday 14 May.

The European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory and Planck Surveyor satellites contains the SPIRE instrument that Professor Matt Griffin developed as well as other key instruments provided by Professor Peter Ade, both from the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Huw Stephens hits the Hilton for annual ceremony

The 12th Annual Cardiff Student Media awards took place last week, with a high-profile event held at Cardiff’s Hilton Hotel.

Celebrity Radio One DJ and local legend Huw Stephens hosted the event and presented all of the awards.

MA courses need more public funding

Postgraduate international students paying higher fees are 'propping up' UK universities

More public funding should be made available to students on taught postgraduate courses or their numbers may decrease, a report warns.

Almost one in five UK students is a postgraduate on a taught Masters course and numbers have risen by 70% in 11 years, the Universities UK report says.

The end of LEARN as we know it?

The consultation document for the proposed reduction of activities at Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning was finally released last week, 11 days after the cuts were originally announced to staff.

As gair rhydd issue 895 reported, the document’s recommended option would axe all humanities and Welsh provision from LEARN’s programme, leading to more than 250 courses being stopped.

Low expectations

Only 36% of 2009’s graduates expect to get a job for which they are qualified this year, graduate recruitment agency High Flyers has discovered.

Their research involved 16,357 students from 30 UK universities, including Cardiff University. Over half of those questioned felt that prospects for new graduates were “very limited”, while 48% feared that they may be made redundant within a year of starting work, with 42% believing that if they did receive a job offer, it would be withdrawn before they started.

Up to 70% of European students evade loan repayment

It has emerged that up to 70% of students from other European Union countries are failing to repay their student loans after studying at UK universities.

Figures released by the Student Loans Company (SLC) reveal that out of the 2, 240 students who should have begun repayments, 1,580 are unaccounted for.

Union watch

Robin Morgan rounds up the week in student media

Virtually cured

Third year medical students are taking part in a pilot program which allows them to diagnose and treat patients – in a virtual world.

Deep impact

A secretary in China accidently bit off her boss’ penis last week while orally pleasuring him in his car.

According to reports, the 30-year-old woman was performing oral sex on her boss whilst stationary in a car park, when the car was struck by a reversing van.

Watch the birdy

An Australian traveller has been charged for smuggling songbirds into the United States after he was caught with 13 live birds strapped to his legs.

46-year-old Sony Dong was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after an inspector spotted bird feathers and droppings on his socks.

Gambler bombs out in casino

A woman in Washington has been charged after she called in a fake bomb threat to a casino to stop her husband from gambling.

43-year-old Tamara Gillespie was furious at her husband who had taken their savings to gamble at a local casino.