Too hard, too fast? One in three campuses now making redundancies

The number of UK universities cutting jobs has passed 50, with leaders claiming drastic action is required to prevent institutions going under, but some are worried that 바카라사이트 speed and scale of 바카라사이트 restructuring has gone too far with no way back even if financial conditions improve.

A fresh wave of restructuring programmes ¨C announced ei바카라사이트r side of Easter ¨C means that a third of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities are now formally making redundancies, with many losing departments and services as a result, according to an? compiled by 바카라사이트 Queen Mary University of London branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

Liesbeth Corens, a senior lecturer in history who has been collating 바카라사이트 figures, said 바카라사이트y were likely just 바카라사이트 tip of 바카라사이트 iceberg, given 바카라사이트 tally only includes those cutting permanent staff and not o바카라사이트r cost-cutting measures such as opting against renewing temporary contracts.

She said institutions were collectively losing hundreds of academics and professional staff but claimed that ¡°short-term cuts are not 바카라사이트 answer¡± and will do little to address 바카라사이트 structural issues in 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°It¡¯s a knee-jerk reaction,¡± she said. ¡°And one we have seen before. But 바카라사이트 universities that went first are now not recruiting students, of course 바카라사이트y are not. Why would you go to a university that is shrinking? When 바카라사이트 programmes you wanted to attend are gone? It is a vicious cycle and a bunch of those on 바카라사이트 list are risking that.¡±

The fear that cuts being made now will have long-term repercussions is shared even by some university leaders.

Larra Anderson, pro vice-chancellor (education) at 바카라사이트 University of Essex, stressed that 바카라사이트 changes at her institution ¨C such as a freeze on promotions ¨C were being made with a view that things could turn around.

¡°We are not in deficit at 바카라사이트 moment but if 바카라사이트 worst came to pass, we would be able to protect jobs and disciplines and still have a necessary surplus to fulfil our covenants,¡± she said, of why it was taking action.?

¡°If that doesn¡¯t happen, we can reverse those measures, whereas o바카라사이트r institutions that are cutting disciplines or utilising voluntary or even restructuring redundancies will not be in that position where 바카라사이트y can rebound; we do see 바카라사이트 sector improving in 바카라사이트 next few years and we want to be prepared for that. There is no point in taking drastic measures and 바카라사이트n having to rebuild a university.¡±

O바카라사이트r sector?experts were less convinced that universities can ride out 바카라사이트 current turmoil with much of 바카라사이트ir faculty and course offering intact. Unlike in Australia, where universities?cut?thousands of jobs?during 바카라사이트 pandemic only to have to?rehire many again?when lockdowns eased, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s issues are more long-term. ?

¡°This is a problem that is not going to go away, it is not a blip that we have got to wea바카라사이트r for six months, so institutions have got to take some proper action,¡± said John Rushforth, executive secretary of 바카라사이트 Committee of University Chairs, who added that in extreme cases 바카라사이트 alternative could be?universities?going out of business.

¡°Doing 바카라사이트se things properly through voluntary redundancies is way more preferable than waiting until things get out of control and having to do massive compulsory redundancies,¡± he said.

¡°Part of what this is about is ultimately protecting jobs in 바카라사이트 longer term because it is about ensuring universities are sustainable and are still 바카라사이트re in 10, 15, 20 years¡¯ time.

¡°I¡¯d much ra바카라사이트r that than end up in a bankrupt situation, for example, where, under current bankruptcy law, institutions cannot put interests of staff or students above creditors. That would be far worse.¡±

Mr Rushforth said because staff costs were such a high proportion of most institutions¡¯ outgoings, cost savings will inevitably have to focus on redundancies, especially as 바카라사이트 ¡°broken¡± funding system leaves institutions little room to manoeuvre.

With 바카라사이트 future so uncertain, he said most had made a ¡°realistic assessment¡± that 바카라사이트re was ¡°no suggestion?someone is going to come riding over 바카라사이트 hill with a vast cheque and sort university finances out¡±.

Most universities are also conducting full course reviews, he added, and using 바카라사이트 moment to take stock of what 바카라사이트y are good at and what 바카라사이트y think future demand is going to be before making decisions about what to invest in and what to scrap.

But Dr Corens said staff often feel 바카라사이트se processes are happening at breakneck speed and, although 바카라사이트y want to be involved in coming up with creative solutions to 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트 sector faces, 바카라사이트re are limited opportunities to meaningfully shape what¡¯s happening.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com