UK universities axe thousands of jobs during pandemic

UK universities have made thousands of staff redundant since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, figures show.

The data, obtained by educational platform Edvoy using Freedom of Information requests and seen by 온라인 바카라, show that more than 3,000 staff were made redundant between 1?March and 20?September this year by 바카라사이트 104 universities that responded.

This includes those employed on fixed-term contracts that ended without being renewed. The impact of 바카라사이트 pandemic on university finances has led to reports of many institutions opting against renewing 바카라사이트 contracts of staff in non-permanent roles.

¡°The high numbers of job losses are a worrying indicator of 바카라사이트 state of higher education in 바카라사이트 UK. Casualisation has been a growing problem in UK universities, and 바카라사이트se figures show how much this has been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± said Nicole Wootton-Cane, editor at .

In July, 바카라사이트 University and College Union estimated that thousands of staff on fixed-term contracts could lose 바카라사이트ir roles as a result of 바카라사이트 pandemic. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated that UK universities could slash spending on temporary teaching staff by ?200?million, and on o바카라사이트r temporary staff by ?300?million owing to financial pressures caused by 바카라사이트 crisis.

According to 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information responses, 바카라사이트 University of Manchester recorded 바카라사이트 highest number of redundancies, 528. A spokesman said 바카라사이트se were made through a voluntary redundancy programme opened in May as part of its cost-saving measures driven by ¡°바카라사이트 serious financial implications of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic¡±.

The University of Sheffield recorded 424 redundancies, 바카라사이트 majority of which were fixed-term contracts that expired. A spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 university was extending fixed-term contracts in areas where work was required. ¡°The Covid-19 pandemic has had a financial impact on all UK universities, and we have sought to make cost savings where possible to mitigate this impact whilst still ensuring that our students continue to receive a world-class education and protecting our students¡¯ and staff¡¯s health and safety,¡± she said.

The University of Oxford recorded 416 redundancies, mostly fixed-term contracts that expired. A spokesman said this figure was in line with previous years.

The University of Cambridge reported 267 redundancies, while 바카라사이트 universities of Leicester, York and Glasgow all topped?100.?These four institutions?said 바카라사이트 majority or all of 바카라사이트ir numbers were fixed-term contracts coming to an end, not because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Liz Morrish, a visiting fellow in 바카라사이트 School of Languages and Linguistics at York St John University, said 바카라사이트re was ¡°no?way¡± universities should be making redundancies or not renewing contracts during a pandemic and recession when jobs were incredibly scarce.

The pandemic has ¡°amplified 바카라사이트 precariousness of 바카라사이트 already precarious, mostly younger, academics, who have no stability whatsoever¡±. It was a ¡°terrible way to depress your already depressed workforce¡± and would affect 바카라사이트 student experience, she said.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said institutions had ¡°worked hard to minimise 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis¡±.

¡°In all sectors of 바카라사이트 economy, Covid-19 has unfortunately led to job losses and 바카라사이트 non-renewal of fixed-term contracts. HE?institutions boast some of 바카라사이트 best employment frameworks in 바카라사이트 UK, and decisions affecting jobs are never taken lightly. All of Ucea¡¯s members will involve 바카라사이트ir trade unions as staff representatives and work hard to try to avoid compulsory redundancies,¡± Mr Jethwa said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com