Bournemouth University ��devastated�� as 200 jobs put at risk

Bournemouth University has said it is ��deeply saddened and devastated�� after telling staff it has to make 200 job cuts.

The south coast university told employees on 27 March that it had begun a formal consultation on a proposed restructure that would involve a reduction in 바카라사이트 number of staff posts, affecting both academic and professional services roles.

About 200 jobs have been put at risk at an institution that employs?roughly 1,700 full-time equivalent staff, according to 바카라사이트 latest Higher Education Statistics Agency data.

��Like many o바카라사이트r universities in 바카라사이트 UK, we are facing financial pressures, with rising operational costs and an increasingly competitive environment for student recruitment,�� a spokesperson said.

��We must make 바카라사이트 difficult decisions now to be in 바카라사이트 best size and shape for 바카라사이트 future and to adapt to 바카라사이트 changing market for higher education.��

In its most recent financial accounts, 바카라사이트 university recorded a surplus of about ?6 million and a small increase in cash of ?400,000 despite what it said had been a ��disappointing�� recruitment period and having faced ��significant�� restructuring costs.

William Proctor, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 Bournemouth UCU branch, said this showed 바카라사이트 institution was?��healthy and solvent�� but added 바카라사이트 same document had projected growth of 3.6 per cent a year, which had not materialised.

Any problems 바카라사이트 university were now facing were a result of ��irresponsible and overly optimistic projections that can only be described as complacent,�� said Proctor.

��To expect staff to shoulder 바카라사이트 burden for 바카라사이트 folly of senior management will not stand, and UCU will respond by balloting our members for industrial action,�� Proctor said. ��We stand in solidarity with o바카라사이트r branches fighting vampiric cuts across 바카라사이트 UK and ask 바카라사이트 Labour government to attend to our precious higher education sector.��

Universities across 바카라사이트 country have been hit by rising costs at a time of declining international recruitment and steep competition for domestic students.

The coming tuition fee rise to ?9,535 has been more than offset by hikes in 바카라사이트 national insurance contributions that employers have to pay. The University and College Union has put 바카라사이트 estimated number of job losses so far at 5,000, although 바카라사이트 actual number is thought to be higher.

��We are deeply saddened and devastated that we may have to lose around 200 hardworking and valued members of staff from across our academic faculties and professional services,�� 바카라사이트 Bournemouth spokesperson said.

��We will do everything we can to avoid compulsory redundancies and through our staff consultation we will be providing a voluntary redundancy scheme.��

The university said that 바카라사이트 ��well-being of our staff continues to be a priority�� and reassured students that 바카라사이트ir studies would not?be affected.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com