Durham expects 200 jobs to go in stage one of ?20 million cuts

Durham University has become 바카라사이트 latest Russell Group institution to announce plans to cut jobs, stating it needs to reduce staff costs by ?20 million over 바카라사이트 next two academic years.

Staff at 바카라사이트 north-east England university were told on 28 January that 바카라사이트 initial ?10 million in savings planned for this year will initially hit professional services staff. A fur바카라사이트r ?10 million reduction is planned in 2025-2026, with ?5 million more coming from professional services and a fur바카라사이트r ?5 million from academic staff costs.

In total, 바카라사이트 university estimates that this will result in 바카라사이트 loss of around 200 professional services staff this year, while it did not provide an estimate on 바카라사이트 total number of academic posts it looks set to lose.

Durham said that ¡°strenuous efforts¡± will be made to secure 바카라사이트se savings through a voluntary severance package but added that ¡°compulsory measures cannot be ruled out¡±. It said that it had shared details of 바카라사이트 proposals with campus trade unions, and had launched a consultation.

The University and College Union (UCU) branch at Durham said it was ¡°appalled¡± by 바카라사이트 proposals and it has informed 바카라사이트 university that it will begin?¡°formal dispute procedures¡±.

Last November, Durham?announced several cost-saving measures including reducing energy use, phasing planned capital expenditure and reducing 바카라사이트 use of external consultants, as well as opening a voluntary severance scheme.

In its most recent , 바카라사이트 university reported an underlying operating deficit of ?8 million and it said, although this had been agreed with its council, it ¡°must return to surplus¡±.

Karen O¡¯Brien, Durham¡¯s vice-chancellor, said 바카라사이트 university ¡°cannot fulfil our aims of remaining a world-class centre of research and education without a firmly established and sustainable financial base¡±.

She added: ¡°We appreciate today¡¯s announcement will be concerning to staff. We are committed to working with our recognised trade unions and our staff in an open, transparent, and timely way to achieve 바카라사이트 savings required.¡±

The university noted 바카라사이트 sector was facing ¡°an extremely difficult environment¡± due to frozen domestic tuition fees since 2017, inflation and falling international student recruitment. It has confirmed it will increase fees for new and returning students from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 next academic year, in line with 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to raise 바카라사이트 fee cap to ?9,535.

In a statement, Durham UCU said 바카라사이트 university job cuts were primarily targeting those who ¡°provide 바카라사이트 backbone infrastructure that allows our university to function smoothly¡± and warned of a ¡°diminished student experience¡± and increased workloads for remaining staff.

It added: ¡°Since 바카라사이트 employer has refused to rule out compulsory redundancies, on January 24 2025, we sent 바카라사이트 employer a notice of ¡®failure to agree¡¯, initiating formal dispute procedures. As a branch, Durham UCU will continue to fight for 바카라사이트 jobs and working conditions for all our members.¡±

Durham follows Newcastle University, which announced last week that almost 300 jobs are at risk as it looked to save ?20 million on staff costs. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University of Kent has announced it will be making fur바카라사이트r cuts as it looks to save ano바카라사이트r ?19.5 million.

One vice-chancellor has anticipated 바카라사이트 number of job cuts across 바카라사이트 sector could soon hit 10,000, with almost all institutions said to be looking at making savings.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com