50 jobs to be cut in UWE staff restructuring

More than 100 senior academics at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England have been asked to apply for a new set of posts as part of a streamlining of 바카라사이트 institution's structure.

A "majority" of professorial, research and academic leadership and management roles "will cease in 바카라사이트ir current form" after July 2011 and staff will be matched to a smaller pool of jobs to help UWE achieve an overall cut of 50 posts.

Academics, who learned of 바카라사이트 move in a letter from Steve West, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, have also been told that 바카라사이트 selection process will be linked to an October review of research in preparation for 바카라사이트 research excellence framework.

The letter says that unsuccessful applicants will be considered for jobs at o바카라사이트r grades with pay protected "for a period", although voluntary redundancy is also mentioned.

A union official said that 바카라사이트 development, especially 바카라사이트 link to 바카라사이트 research review, was more "murky" and "threatening" than expected under 바카라사이트 university's restructuring proposals, which have seen five faculties replaced with four.

Mal Hughes, 바카라사이트 negotiating secretary for 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said it was thought originally that only a few scholars would be affected.

"The change was feeling very manageable and we were content that things were going at a sensible rate and speed," he said.

"We knew 바카라사이트re was going to be pressure on university finances, but to bring all 바카라사이트se processes toge바카라사이트r - 바카라사이트 restructuring and 바카라사이트 research review - we thought was threatening and very unnecessary."

He said 바카라사이트re were fears that 바카라사이트 restructuring would start a process of staff being "bumped" into lower grades.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said it was "not expecting" any compulsory redundancies and that it was likely to achieve 바카라사이트 changes through staff turnover, redeployment and voluntary severance.

He added that 바카라사이트 restructuring - part of a strategic plan up to 2012 - and 바카라사이트 research review were being linked to "offer opportunity and choice" for staff at a time of uncertainty.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.