University of Sussex warned against taking 'hammer' to adult learning

Under the proposals 18 full-time staff and over 120 sessional tutors will be made redundant when the centre, which is the largest provider of adult learning in the Brighton and Lewes area, is shut at the end of the year.
 
The union said the plans flew in the face of the university's stated aim to widen participation and would stop adult learners from getting the training they needed to move in to higher education and find long-term employment.
 
UCU said it questioned the logic of the cuts and pointed to the fact that CCE is part of the most financially successful school at the university. The union said it would meet next week to discuss its next steps.
 
Luke Martell, UCU branch president at Sussex, said: 'These plans would be hammer blow to adult learning in the county and deprive many people of a vital lifeline back into education and training. No other centre in the area offers it range of provision.'
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'UCU members at CCE have the union's full support. I fail to see the logic in closing CCE when it has such a great track record of servicing the local community and when it is part of the most financially successful school at the university. This decision will come back to haunt the university in the long-term.'

An online petition has been launched against the closure: sign here