Staying beyond 69? 'Dead wood' Cambridge academics rebel against retirement rule

About three dozen Cambridge University academics have rebelled against a rule that requires them to abandon their posts when they turn 69.

A group of 35 academics have attacked the policy by arguing that attempts to remove "dead wood" from faculties creates a "brain drain" and harms women academics whose careers often develop later.

Lat year, Oxford University lost an employment tribunal case over opting a similar policy. A judge ruled that the university was not "legally justified" in forcing four academics to retire at 68.

Cambridge retirement age: What is the row?

Last week, Cambridge proposed increasing the cut-off age from 67 to 69 and abolishing it for administrative and support staff, according to a report by The Times newspaper.

However, it will remain in place for all academics, pro-vice-chancellors and the vice-chancellor.

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The group wrote that "forcing arbitrary retirement" stops innovation, and added that academics can "innovate at any age" and that to suggest otherwise is "ageist".

"Top talent won’t join Cambridge knowing they’ll be forced out at 67 or 69. We lose our best professors to other universities by 62 or 64, creating a brain drain and taking their big grants elsewhere," the group wrote.

"The Employer Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) does not lead to Cambridge promoting its own junior academics. Forced retirement disproportionately also harms women whose careers often develop later,' it added.

Professor Raghu Rau, a member of the group, told The Times newspaper: "Instead of developing a performance management system, it just forces out everyone. Simply put, to get rid of some dead wood, the university burns down the forest."

Cambridge Academics retirement age row: What next?

The new proposals to push the EJRA up to 69 will be debated this month and then be voted on by members of Regent House, Cambridge University'sdemocratic body, next month in July.

(With inputs from agencies)