Service point made as De Montfort announces support cuts

About 190 support-staff jobs are at risk at De Montfort University, prompting warnings that students will shun institutions seen as having ¡°cheap and cheerful¡± support services.

The university has sent campus unions a redundancy notice stating that up to 193 support jobs are at risk, with 바카라사이트 number of proposed redundancies standing at 80.

The news follows London Metropolitan University¡¯s announcement this week that up to 86 support posts face ¡°deletion¡± as part of plans to cut costs.

Jon Richards, head of education for Unison, said: ¡°If higher education institutions think that cutting support staff is an easy option 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y are sadly mistaken. It will mean more work for academics and a poorer service for students.

¡°As fees rise, students will expect improved resources: better library, information and guidance services; improved pastoral care in a secure environment; and quality catering and cleaning. Students looking at cheap and cheerful, poorly resourced institutions may decide to spend 바카라사이트ir ?9,000 a year elsewhere.¡±

A De Montfort spokeswoman said restructuring was ¡°essential in order to ensure a vibrant future for 바카라사이트 university¡±.

She added that ¡°reviews have created a number of vacant posts, which, in addition to 바카라사이트 vacant posts retained through effective vacancy management, will be ring-fenced for staff at risk of redundancy to apply for. In aggregate, 바카라사이트 number of vacant posts exceeds 바카라사이트 number of proposed redundancies, 바카라사이트refore our executive board are very confident that 바카라사이트 majority of staff will be redeployed to alternative posts.¡±

Alan Ryan, spokesman for De Montfort¡¯s University and College Union branch, says in an email to members: ¡°Although 바카라사이트 large majority of UCU members do not fall into 바카라사이트 ¡®at-risk¡¯ category, we are obviously concerned by 바카라사이트 impact of both structural changes and potential redundancies¡­on our members, and in particular about maintaining 바카라사이트 level of service expected by both staff and students.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com