Students at a music university took to the streets to disrupt an open day in protests over staff redundancies.
Groups of students at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute in Brighton stood and chanted outside the university building in solidarity with staff following a restructuring.
Students at BIMM say that the changes will negatively affect their learning experience while staff have expressed concerns that they will not be able to provide adequate support.
One member of staff at BIMM, who wished not to be named, said: “We don’t have the number of support staff to service the student’s needs. We needed additional support, not less.
“For some of the more junior staff there’s more bewilderment at the decision than anything.
“We haven’t had students back yet so the true impact won’t be seen until late September when the come back. They will have access to less resources in people helping them.”
A small group of protesters stood outside the institution in Brunswick Street West in Hove this morning making their voices heard about the decisions.
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BIMM students were joined by members of other unions in the city also protesting at the issues as prospective students visited for an open day at the university.
Becky Cole, a student rep at BIMM, said: “I feel that the staff are not being treated well. They are taking away people who have helped us these past years.
“I’m worried how it will affect my student experience. I’m not confident on the level of education I will get.”
Opponents to the changes have slammed the decision to restructure as a “blatant cost-cutting fire and rehire exercise” which puts more pressure on students during a cost-of-living crisis.
A spokesman for BIMM said the restructuring of staff was necessary and would benefit students.
He said: “As our institution continues to grow, and having obtained the university title last year, changes in the way that we work are required to provide a better student and lecturer experience and ensure greater coordination across campuses, faculties and courses.
“Crucially, there will be no reduction in teaching staff resulting from these changes.”
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