In the many congratulations that I have had for the success of the national campaign to abolish the default retirement age (DRA) one sentiment stands out. It is anger that the vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors, the very same who have been in charge of the 2009 and 2010 culling of 65 year old academics, will now themselves benefit from the change. This makes a martyr of every member of the UKACE committee who has fought for the change while being booted out. I know of no case of a VC or PVC who has spoken up in support of the UKACE campaign or the national “Scrap the DRA” campaign.
As predicted in these pages the VCs will now have to change their regulations, to take into account the abolition of the DRA from 1 October 2011. A new academic year is upon us and they must scurry around to get this job done. There is not much sign of it yet.
On the positive side I see no sign, either, of VCs actively campaigning against the change. This would be the last straw. But these pages will stay open to be on the look out for dilly-dallying and obfuscation.
Ed
