The bullying of academics follows a pattern of horrendous, Orwellian elimination rituals, often hidden from the public. Despite the anti-bullying policies (often token), bullying is rife across campuses, and the victims (targets) often pay a heavy price. "Nothing strengthens authority as much as silence." Leonardo da Vinci - "All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men [or good women] do nothing." -- Edmund Burke
October 31, 2007
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You've heard of the expression "the blind leading the blind". Leeds Met is a case of the "unqualified promoting the inexperienced". The number of senior level academics, deans, associate deans and PLs who have nothing beyond an undergraduate degree has led to an environment of insecure, unqualified managers. And when people are insecure it leads to managers promoting similar types around them. And all of this is a classic environment for bullying to set in on an institutional level.
I worked at Leeds Met. I saw intelligent, PhD qualified individuals alienated, bullied and made to feel that a PhD was a handicap.
The above situation is common (but not restricted to) many ex-polytechnics and ex-colleges now HEIs, such as Wolverhampton, Leeds Met and De Montfort. Such places tend to be strongholds of institutionalised bullying with above average rates of workplace stress. For a reasonable explanation of the phenomenon check: Bullying of Academics in Higher Education: Former polytechnics spread their wings