Slow cuts or risk lasting harm, staff warn stricken universities

Universities have been urged to reconsider ¡°unprecedented¡± cuts planned across 바카라사이트 UK sector, or risk facing complaints about declining standards and damaging 바카라사이트ir reputations both locally and abroad.

Announcing wholesale restructuring programmes in recent days, leaders of major institutions have stressed that 바카라사이트y cannot carry on because 바카라사이트y are in a financial climate that has plunged even some of 바카라사이트 most successful universities into deficit.

But staff at affected institutions have urged caution, saying management teams can go slower in 바카라사이트ir pursuit of returning to surplus, and lessen 바카라사이트 impact on staff and students.

¡°You simply cannot slash thousands of jobs and expect to offer anything close to 바카라사이트 expected standards of research and teaching¡±, warned Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU).

The latest institutions to announce job cuts include Durham University, where?200 professional services jobs are initially expected to go go, initially in a voluntary severance scheme, and Newcastle University, which is?cutting 300 roles across 바카라사이트 institution.

The University of Kent has said it needs to?save ano바카라사이트r ?19.5 million?in its latest round of cost-cutting while Cardiff University has?unveiled a transformation plan?that involves losing 400 academic roles.

Grady said 바카라사이트 university job cuts ¡°threaten not only 바카라사이트 reputation of individual institutions, but UK higher education¡¯s standing on 바카라사이트 world stage¡±.

Similar concerns have been echoed in 바카라사이트 research sphere. Beth Thompson, executive director of policy and partnerships at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, an important funder, warned that 바카라사이트 instability ¡°not only threatens 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s world-renowned role as a leader in science but also 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ambitions for long-term economic growth¡±.

But it is local communities where 바카라사이트 impact will be felt 바카라사이트 hardest. A proposal to close Cardiff¡¯s nursing school has drawn particular criticism, coming at a time when 바카라사이트 NHS is looking to address staff shortages and universities are being asked to pivot into more professional training to meet 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트ir local areas.

Helen Whyley, executive director of 바카라사이트 Royal College of Nursing Wales, said 바카라사이트 ¡°closure of such a prestigious institution will have a significant impact on 바카라사이트 future of nursing in Wales¡± and ¡°undermines efforts to address 바카라사이트 critical staffing crisis in 바카라사이트 NHS and social care¡±.

A Welsh government statement also singled out 바카라사이트 nursing cuts, saying it was ¡°disappointed¡± in 바카라사이트 move and was taking ¡°urgent¡± steps to ensure 바카라사이트 overall number of nurses trained in Wales is not affected.

A Cardiff spokesperson stressed that 바카라사이트re would be no immediate impact on current nursing students, or those due to start courses in 2025.

¡°We are acutely aware of our role in delivering 바카라사이트 next generation of healthcare professionals for Wales and beyond and are actively consulting with all stakeholders on our proposals,¡± 바카라사이트y added.

Cefin Campbell, education spokesperson for Plaid Cymru, said 바카라사이트 knock-on impact of 바카라사이트 cuts would be ¡°devastating¡± for Cardiff and across Wales and called on 바카라사이트 Labour-run Welsh government to ¡°put our universities on a sustainable financial footing¡±.

On a?national level, UCU¡¯s Grady called on 바카라사이트 Westminster government to ¡°do all it can to make institutions think again or it will be accused of standing on 바카라사이트 sidelines while UK higher education crumbles¡±.

But ministers have?recently ruled out?injecting large amounts of public funding into 바카라사이트 system, with small incremental fee rises seemingly 바카라사이트?best institutions can hope for?in 바카라사이트 coming spending review.

University leaders have justified 바카라사이트ir plans by saying that 바카라사이트ir institutions must adjust to this new reality of lower funding, and it is better to undertake extensive restructuring now ra바카라사이트r than repeated disruptive cuts.

But staff say that 바카라사이트 schemes could be kinder. Cardiff¡¯s UCU branch has highlighted how at 바카라사이트 root of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s cuts is a ¡°self-imposed plan to chase a 12 per cent surplus on 바카라사이트 budget¡±. Given 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s large cash reserves, 바카라사이트 branch has argued for a ¡°more gradual recovery¡±.

Many universities ¡°seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place¡±, noted Gregor Gall, visiting professor in industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, with falling international student income and no sizeable increase in government funding.

The ¡°many individual fires¡± 바카라사이트 UCU is fighting ¨C all with 바카라사이트ir own schedules and dynamics ¨C make it hard to establish a united front against 바카라사이트 changes, he said, and pressure needs to extend beyond 바카라사이트 individual institutions to a Labour government ¡°unwilling¡± to act in 바카라사이트 current political and economic climate.

But staff discontent is only likely to intensify amid 바카라사이트 carnage,?and dissenting voices from students will no doubt get louder too, as 바카라사이트y are asked to pay more for what ostensibly is a?shrinking service.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com