University confirms plans to cut 400 jobs

» University confirms plans to cut 400 jobs


Cardiff University has confirmed plans to cut 400 full-time jobs amid a funding shortfall.

The proposals to save money could also involve school and subject closures and school mergers, with nursing, music and modern languages among the subjects being cut.

The Cardiff University and College Union (UCU) called the cuts “cruel and unnecessary” and said it would fight plans for compulsory redundancies.

The university said it would only make compulsory redundancies “if absolutely necessary”.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said “it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are”.

She said the university needed to “take difficult decisions” due to “declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive”.

“I know that these proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainly and anxiety for those potentially impacted,” she added.

Dr Joey Whitfield from Cardiff UCU said they were “absolutely shell shocked” by the “cruel and unnecessary” cuts.

“I’ve had colleagues in tears. They’ll damage our members, our students, the city, and Wales as a whole,” she added.

She said union members “are prepared to fight any compulsory redundancies tooth and nail”.

Prof Larner said the proposals would result in a “a slightly smaller university”.

She said a formal consultation would take place, with the 400 job cuts equating to 7% of the workforce.

The subjects and programmes being cut also include ancient history and religion and theology.

The university said the proposals would also include the following subject mergers:

  • Chemistry, earth sciences and physics being merged to create the School of Natural Sciences
  • Computer science and maths merging to become the School of Data Science
  • Social sciences, geography and planning merged to become the School of Human and Social Sciences
  • English, communication and philosophy, Welsh and remaining elements of history, archaeology and religion and modern languages merged into the School of Global Humanities

Staff briefings were held on Tuesday, with the university saying they would continue throughout the week.

The consultation will run for three months, with final plans for approval expected to be considered by University Council in June 2025.

The university had previously said it had to take action to address a £30m black hole in its budget with the pressure of increased costs and falling international student numbers affecting the whole higher education sector.

An offer of voluntary severance between June and September 2024 was taken up and approved for 155 staff and a second round closed earlier this month.

The Welsh government has said that university tuition fees will rise to £9,535 a year from September 2025, in line with an increase in fees for English universities announced by the UK government.

Cardiff University is the largest in Wales, with 32,725 students in 2023.

It is a member of the Russell group of 24 leading and research-intensive institutions, often considered to be the most elite in the country.

Other universities across in the UK have been cutting staff in an attempt to address shortfalls in their budgets.

Staff at another Russell group institution, Newcastle University, are being balloted for strike action as the university attempts to tackle a £35m funding black hole.

But there have been warnings that fee increases will not resolve the financial problems faced by universities.



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