“In 1988, the Conservative administration headed by Margaret Thatcher abolished tenure in British universities, empowering them to dismiss academic staff for reasons of financial exigency or “good cause.” The original bill that did away with tenure contained no reference to academic freedom. Thanks to the House of Lords, however, the government accepted an amendment designed to “ensure that academic staff have freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom and to put forward new ideas and controversial or unpopular opinions, without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs and privileges.” The lords also forced the government to remove a clause permitting universities to replace “expensive” academics with “cheaper” ones …” (more)
[Academic Tenure In Ireland, 15 August]