The 21 Group has received information from an individual who has recently worked in the HR department of a UK university. The testimony paints a picture of corruption and betrayal of trust. We are not naming the university. It may Read more…
The 21 Group is anxious to publish accounts of bullying in Universities from the viewpoint of their victims. These stories are rarely heard. Too often, we hear the bluffing of the HR Directors that “our University does not tolerate bullying Read more…
Dr Magdalen Connolly started as a graduate student and went on to become a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at Cambridge University’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. She completed a Humboldt Fellowship at Munich University just a few months Read more…
The 21 Group is indebted to Dr Emily Baker for contributing a new section to the 21 Group webpages on Employment Tribunals for Beginners. This is the definitive “HowTo” on holding your University to account in the Employment Tribunals if Read more…
Heads of Department (HoDs) run academic departments at UK Universities. They are usually professors, or at least senior academics. They normally serve a term of 4 or 5 years. Not all academics relish being HoD. Many (such as the author) do Read more…
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legally binding contract that establishes a confidential relationship between two or more parties. The purpose of an NDA is to prevent the disclosure of information to third parties. Universities are gluttons for NDAs. The Guardian Read more…
This is Whistleblowing Awareness Week. Universities say that they encourage an open and honest reporting culture. The websites of their Human Resources departments extol the importance of speaking out if you see abuse or bullying or discrimination. Some universities even Read more…
Compared to some other areas of science, cancer research is well-funded. Institutes are supported by large grants of public money, derived from charities such as Cancer Research UK or the Wellcome Trust, or from government bodies such as the Medical Read more…
Green-washing is the pretence of concern about the environment, whilst pursuing policies that are unsustainable or destructive. Cynical marketing ploys, PR stunts, false claims, insincere mission statements are all part of the corporate game. It creates a perception of a responsible Read more…
The story of plagiarism at UK Universities is a familiar one. Senior scholars are protected, regardless of the consequences for junior scholars whose work is stolen. This is not a victimless crime. Real and lasting harm can be done to Read more…