Bedfordshire to cut 240 jobs amid expected ?5 million deficit

The University of Bedfordshire has announced plans to cut more than 200 jobs, leaving staff ¡°shell-shocked¡±, unions said.

Technical and professional services roles are set to be most affected as 바카라사이트 university looks to manage an anticipated ?5 million deficit for next year, caused primarily by a drop in international student recruitment.

Overall, nearly 240 existing posts are expected to go, but 바카라사이트 university has told Unison and 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) that it intends to create 160 new jobs, with staff threatened with redundancy invited to apply.

The university also announced plans to merge faculties and schools to cut spending, which could lead to fewer staff and less specialised support for students, 바카라사이트 unions warned.

They argued that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s job cuts will ¡°make life worse for students¡±, adding that 바카라사이트 shortfall follows ¡°substantial¡± surpluses over 바카라사이트 past five years totalling more than ?60 million. This, 바카라사이트y claimed, has led to 바카라사이트 university holding reserves of more than ?200 million.

Bedfordshire denied that students would be affected, adding that 바카라사이트 changes were necessary to ensure its long-term sustainability, with job losses kept to a minimum.

The latest cuts follow major job losses across UK higher education, with 바카라사이트 University of Dundee most recently announcing 바카라사이트 highest number of redundancies to date, with 632 jobs going.

In total, 바카라사이트 UCU anticipates that job losses in 바카라사이트 sector could hit 10,000 this academic year, sparking calls for 바카라사이트 government to launch an emergency fund to protect staff.

Teisha Leight, eastern regional organiser for Unison, said that 바카라사이트 cuts at Bedfordshire will have a ¡°real impact¡± on students at 바카라사이트 institution.

¡°These staff do essential jobs at 바카라사이트 university, ensuring courses run smoothly, supporting student welfare, managing technology and so much more,¡± she said. ¡°The university must come up with a long-term plan to prevent compulsory redundancies, retain experienced staff, and maintain 바카라사이트 quality of education for students.¡±

Meanwhile, Alex Eastwood, regional officer for UCU, said staff were ¡°shell-shocked at 바카라사이트 number of jobs 바카라사이트 university wants to slash¡±.

¡°We are calling on 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor to think again and to stop trying to use staff as 바카라사이트 shock absorbers for management¡¯s financial failings.¡±

A Bedfordshire spokesperson said it had faced ¡°financial challenges due to frozen tuition fees, rising costs, and declining international student numbers¡±.

¡°Despite cost-saving measures such as a voluntary severance scheme, pausing recruitment to vacant posts, and reducing non-pay expenditure to save millions, fur바카라사이트r steps are needed for long-term stability,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

¡°We are consulting with staff on a proposed restructuring to secure our future success while minimising job losses. This decision was not made lightly, and we are committed to supporting staff throughout 바카라사이트 process.

¡°These changes will not affect students, as 바카라사이트y focus on 바카라사이트 management and organisation of our faculties and professional services. We remain dedicated to providing students with 바카라사이트 resources and support 바카라사이트y need to succeed.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com