University of Essex - Social research centre to close

The University and College Union is in talks with the University of Essex over the closure of the Institute for Social and Technical Research (ISTR). The postgraduate ISTR - which comprises the Digital Lifestyles Centre and the Technology and Social Change Centre - opened in 2002 with backing from British Telecom. However, it failed to generate enough income to be self-sustaining, and the university's senate agreed to close it in October. A UCU spokesman said discussions over the fate of staff were moving "positively". "We believe the university is making every effort to avoid compulsory redundancies," he said.