Editing London School of Economics (section)

===Controversies===
{{See also|London School of Economics Gaddafi links}}
In February 2011, LSE had to face the consequences of [[matriculate|matriculating]] one of [[Muammar Gaddafi]]'s sons while accepting a £1.5m donation to the university from his family.<ref>{{cite news | title = LSE embroiled in row over authorship of Gaddafi's son's PhD thesis and a £1.5m gift to university's coffers | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lse-embroiled-in-row-over-authorship-of-gaddafis-sons-phd-thesis-and-a-15m-gift-to-universitys-coffers-2226894.html | location = London | work = The Independent | first = Jonathan | last = Owen | date = 27 February 2011 | access-date = 4 September 2017 | archive-date = 25 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150925083246/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/lse-embroiled-in-row-over-authorship-of-gaddafis-sons-phd-thesis-and-a-15m-gift-to-universitys-coffers-2226894.html | url-status = live }}</ref> LSE director [[Howard Davies (economist)|Howard Davies]] resigned over allegations about the institution's links to the Libyan regime.<ref name=Davies>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal | title=LSE head quits over Gaddafi scandal | work=The Guardian | location=UK | first1=Jeevan | last1=Vasagar | first2=Rajeev | last2=Syal | date=4 March 2011 | access-date=12 December 2016 | archive-date=6 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106174229/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/mar/03/lse-director-resigns-gaddafi-scandal | url-status=live }}</ref> The LSE announced in a statement that it had accepted his resignation with "great regret" and that it had set up an external inquiry into the school's relationship with the Libyan regime and Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, to be conducted by the former lord chief justice [[Harry Woolf, Baron Woolf|Harry Woolf]].<ref name=Davies/>

In 2013, the LSE was featured in a [[BBC]] ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]'' documentary on North Korea, filmed inside the repressive regime by undercover journalists attached to a trip by the [[LSE Students' Union#Grimshaw Club|LSE's Grimshaw Club]], a [[student society]] of the international relations department. The trip had been sanctioned by high-level North Korean officials.<ref name="NewsAUPanorama">{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/world/bbc-panorama-news-documentary-sent-undercover-reporter-to-north-korea-with-students/story-fndir2ev-1226620052370 |title=BBC Panorama news documentary sent undercover reporter to North Korea with students |website=News.com.au |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=10 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610063302/http://www.news.com.au/world/bbc-panorama-news-documentary-sent-undercover-reporter-to-north-korea-with-students/story-fndir2ev-1226620052370 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Conlan">{{cite news |last=Conlan |first=Tara |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/17/bbc-apologise-lse-john-sweeney-north-korea-panorama |title=BBC to apologise to LSE over John Sweeney's North Korea documentary |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213024413/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/17/bbc-apologise-lse-john-sweeney-north-korea-panorama |url-status=live }}</ref> The trip caused international media attention as a BBC journalist was posing as a part of LSE.<ref>{{cite news|last=Halliday|first=Josh|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/apr/17/north-korea-students-criticise-lse|title=Students say LSE has placed them at 'more risk' from North Korea|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109093739/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/apr/17/north-korea-students-criticise-lse|url-status=live}}</ref> There was debate as to whether this put the students' lives in jeopardy in the repressive regime if a reporter had been exposed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-Korea-sends-threats-to-LSE-students/articleshow/19612600.cms|first=Kounteya|last=Sinha|title=North Korea sends threats to LSE students|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=18 April 2013|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703215137/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-Korea-sends-threats-to-LSE-students/articleshow/19612600.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The North Korean government made hostile threats towards the students and LSE after the publicity, which forced an apology from the BBC.<ref name="Conlan"/>

In August 2015, it was revealed that the university was paid approximately £40,000 for a "glowing report" for [[Camila Batmanghelidjh]]'s charity, [[Kids Company]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/london-school-economics-was-paid-%C2%A340000-glowing-report-kids-company|title=London School of Economics was paid £40,000 for glowing report on Kids Company|work=Times Higher Education|date=12 August 2015|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=4 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904073918/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/london-school-economics-was-paid-%C2%A340000-glowing-report-kids-company|url-status=live}}</ref> The study was used by Batmanghelidjh to prove that the charity provided good value for money and was well managed. The university did not disclose that the study was funded by the charity.

In 2023, the LSE formally cut ties with the LGBT charity [[Stonewall (charity)|Stonewall]], a decision which was sharply criticized as transphobic by the LSE Student Union but praised by gender-critical activists as being conducive to freedom of speech.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/20/university-launched-britains-first-pride-march-cuts-ties-stonewall/ |title=University that launched Britain's first Pride march cuts ties with Stonewall |last1=Somerville |first1=Ewan |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208132358/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/20/university-launched-britains-first-pride-march-cuts-ties-stonewall/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/lse-is-right-to-cut-ties-with-stonewall/ |title=LSE is right to cut ties with Stonewall |last1=Armstrong |first1=John |access-date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208132359/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/lse-is-right-to-cut-ties-with-stonewall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024 emails between LSE senior staff described students wearing [[keffiyeh]] who were protesting the university's investments in [[Israel]] as being "dressed as terrorists".<ref>{{Cite web |title=London university described pro-Palestine protesters as 'dressed as terrorists' |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/london-university-described-pro-palestine-students-being-dressed-terrorists |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref>

==== Industrial disputes ====
In the summer of 2017, dozens of campus cleaners contracted via Noonan Services went on weekly strikes, protesting outside key buildings and causing significant disruption during end-of-year examinations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/gender/2016/11/14/justice-for-the-lse-cleaners/|title=Justice for the LSE Cleaners!|date=2016-11-14|website=Engenderings|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065634/https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/gender/2016/11/14/justice-for-the-lse-cleaners/|url-status=live}}</ref> The dispute organised by the [[United Voices of the World|UVW union]] was originally over unfair dismissals of cleaners, but had escalated into a broad demand for decent employment rights matching those of LSE's in-house employees.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/25/lse-striking-cleaners-outsourced-university-injustice|title=The courage of the LSE's striking cleaners can give us all hope {{!}} Owen Jones|last=Jones|first=Owen|date=2017-05-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2019-02-27|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225224003/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/25/lse-striking-cleaners-outsourced-university-injustice|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Owen Jones (writer)|Owen Jones]] did not cross the picket line after arriving for a debate on grammar schools with [[Peter Hitchens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/left-wing-columnist-owen-jones-snubs-lse-debate-solidarity-striking-cleaners-1622133|title=Left-wing columnist Owen Jones snubs LSE debate in solidarity with striking cleaners|date=2017-05-18|website=International Business Times UK|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228004158/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/left-wing-columnist-owen-jones-snubs-lse-debate-solidarity-striking-cleaners-1622133|url-status=live}}</ref> It was announced in June 2018 that some 200 outsourced workers at the LSE would be offered in-house contracts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://notesfrombelow.org/article/rebellion-lse-cleaning-sector-inquiry|title=Rebellion at the LSE: a cleaning sector inquiry|website=Notes From Below|language=en|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-date=26 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226045714/https://notesfrombelow.org/article/rebellion-lse-cleaning-sector-inquiry|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2014/15, levels of academic casualisation have increased at the LSE, with the number of academics on fixed-term contracts increasing from 47% in 2016/2017 to 59% in 2021/2022,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=HESA |date=2023 |title=HE academic staff by HE provider and employment conditions, Academic years 2014/15 to 2021/22 |url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff/employment-conditions |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=HESA |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727181844/https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/staff/employment-conditions |url-status=live }}</ref> according to Higher Education Statistical Agency data (internal LSE data puts the latest figure at 58.5%).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title="The Crisis of Academic Casualisation at LSE" |url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQiPscs_epkMnBdPyp-h8Wosyuw1oWVgsOHnFivDELE/edit#heading=h.6vvsvf1up4kq |access-date=27 July 2023 |website=LSE UCU Report 2023 |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727181834/https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQiPscs_epkMnBdPyp-h8Wosyuw1oWVgsOHnFivDELE/edit#heading=h.6vvsvf1up4kq |url-status=live }}</ref> During this same period, comparable universities such as [[University of Edinburgh]], [[University College London]] and [[Imperial College London|Imperial]] all increased their rates of permanent staff relative to those on fixed term contracts.<ref name=":0" /> Only Oxford had a higher proportion of casual academic work for the 2021/2022 year (66%) although in contrast to LSE, the proportion remained constant rather than rising.<ref name=":0" /> As a result, the student-to-permanent staff ratio at LSE has worsened and had, as of July 2023, the worst student-to-permanent staff ratio among comparable universities in the UK, according to HESA data.<ref name=":0" /> According to research conducted by the LSE UCU Branch into staff well-being, 82% of fixed term academic staff at the LSE experienced regular or constant anxiety about their professional futures.<ref name=":1" /> In the same survey, overwork and mental health issues were reported as endemic among respondents, with 40% of fellows reporting that their teaching hours exceeded LSE's universal teaching limit of 100 hours per academic year for LSE Fellows.<ref name=":1" />

In response to industrial action, which included not marking student work, taken by [[University and College Union|UCU]] in the summer of 2023 over pay and casualised working conditions, the LSE management took the decision to not accept partial performance of duties and to impose pay deductions on academic staff participating in the action.<ref name="pay deductions">{{Cite web |last=LSE |date=2023 |title="Industrial Action: marking and assessment boycott – frequently asked questions (FAQs) for staff and managers" |url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Human-Resources/Assets/Documents/Industrial-Action/Industrial-Action-FAQs-for-staff-and-managers-marking-assessment-boycott-May23.pdf |access-date=27 July 2023 |publisher=London School of Economics |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727165444/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Human-Resources/Assets/Documents/Industrial-Action/Industrial-Action-FAQs-for-staff-and-managers-marking-assessment-boycott-May23.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The LSE also introduced an 'Exceptional Degree Classification Schemes' policy,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=LSE Registrar's Division, Student Services |date=June 2023 |title="Marking and Assessment Boycott Summer 2023 Exceptional Degree Classification Schemes for Provisional Classifications" (PDF). |url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/academic-registrars-division/Teaching-Quality-Assurance-and-Review-Office/Assets/Documents/Calendar/MAB-Summer-23-Exceptional-Degree-Classification-Schemes-for-Provisional-Classifications.pdf |access-date=27 July 2023 |publisher=London School of Economics |archive-date=27 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230727194732/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/academic-registrars-division/Teaching-Quality-Assurance-and-Review-Office/Assets/Documents/Calendar/MAB-Summer-23-Exceptional-Degree-Classification-Schemes-for-Provisional-Classifications.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> allowing undergraduate and taught postgraduate students to be awarded provisional degrees on the basis of fewer grades than normally required. In the event that the final classification (once all marks are available) is lower than the provisional classification, the higher provisional classification will stand as the degree classification.<ref name=":2" />

==== ''The World Turned Upside Down'' ====
[[File:The World Turned Upside Down (sculpture by Mark Wallinger).jpg|thumb|upright|''The World Turned Upside Down'']]

A sculpture by [[Mark Wallinger]], ''[[The World Turned Upside Down (sculpture)|The World Turned Upside Down]]'', which features a globe resting on its north pole, was installed in Sheffield Street on the LSE campus on 26 March 2019. The artwork attracted controversy for showing [[Taiwan]] as a sovereign state rather than as part of [[China]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Bailey |first=Martin |date=5 April 2019 |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/mark-wallinger |title=Wallinger's upside-down globe outside LSE angers Chinese students for portraying Taiwan as an independent state |website=[[The Art Newspaper]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802193004/https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/mark-wallinger |archive-date=2 August 2019 |url-status=live}}.

</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chung |first1=Lawrence |title=Taipei complains about London university's decision to alter artwork and portray Taiwan as part of China |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3004625/taipei-complains-about-english-universitys-decision-alter |url-access=subscription |date=4 April 2019 |publisher=South China Morning Post |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405114756/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3004625/taipei-complains-about-english-universitys-decision-alter |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Tom |title=China destroys 30,000 world maps showing 'problematic' borders of Taiwan and India |url=https://www.newsweek.com/china-destroys-maps-problem-borders-1375608 |date=26 March 2019 |work=Newsweek |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405075407/https://www.newsweek.com/china-destroys-maps-problem-borders-1375608 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lhasa]] being denoted as a full capital and depicting [[Sino-Indian border dispute|boundaries between India and China]] as recognised internationally. The sculpture also did not depict the [[State of Palestine]] as a separate country from Israel.

After protests and reactions from both Chinese and Taiwanese students,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk_en/post/5075.html |date=2019-04-05 |first1=Joseph |last1=Wu |publisher=Taipei Representative Office in the U.K. |title=Taiwan Foreign Minister writes open letter protesting LSE's decision to change depiction of Taiwan on sculpture|access-date=April 7, 2019|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407154732/https://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk_en/post/5075.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/edition/news/london-school-of-economics-in-a-world-of-trouble-over-globe-artwork-7lc696x97|title=London School of Economics in a world of trouble over globe artwork|website=[[The Times]]|access-date=April 7, 2019|last1=Parker|first1=Charlie|archive-date=8 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408211430/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/london-school-of-economics-in-a-world-of-trouble-over-globe-artwork-7lc696x97|url-status=live}}</ref> The university decided later that year that it would retain the original design which coloured the People's Republic of China and Taiwan as different entities, consistent with the status quo, but with the addition of an asterisk beside the name of Taiwan and a corresponding placard that clarified the institution's position regarding the controversy.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin Chia-nan |title=Ministry lauds LSE for globe color decision |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/07/11/2003718465 |work=Taipei Times |date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810001609/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/07/11/2003718465 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Taiwan still distinct from China but given asterisk on LSE art work |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201907100013.aspx |publisher=Focus Taiwan |date=2019-07-10 |access-date=10 August 2019 |archive-date=11 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711125649/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201907100013.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>