University of East Anglia looking to cut 170 full-time jobs
It'll save £11 million
The University of East Anglia (UEA) says it's getting rid 170 full-time jobs in a bid to tackle a multi-million pound deficit.
The institution says it will help save £11 million pounds.
It comes just a year after UEA announced a projected £40million deficit - which resulted in over 400 staff members leaving the institution.
"Deeply sorry"
Ina statement, UEA's vice-chancellor Professor David said he's 'deeply sorry' to have to take this step: “I am deeply sorry to announce that we are proposing 170 full time equivalent reduction in roles across the University.
"This is needed to save an additional £11m to stay on track with our financial sustainability plan.
"These decisions have not been taken lightly and I recognise that this will be difficult news for our UEA community.
"All staff and students have been updated on our plans. Those staff who are directly affected have received additional information about what this means for them, and support.
"Over the coming weeks, we will continue consultation with our Trades Unions. We have stressed that compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort.
"Although our long-term finances remain sound, this shortfall has arisen because of inflationary cost pressures and a reduction in international postgraduate numbers, reflected across the sector.
"Plans have been developed at pace to address this shortfall and have been driven by data to ensure we protect as much of our community as possible.
"Significant savings have already been made in areas of non-pay spend across the university. This includes a continued commitment to student education and experience, and we will work hard to limit any impact on students.”
"UEA will not survive or thrive with fewer hardworking staff"
Nick Grant, UEA University and College Union (UCU) Co-Chair responded to the news, saying the union will do 'everything in its power' to protect its members' jobs.
Here's his full statement:
"The news today that UEA’s leadership is once again seeking to make hardworking colleagues redundant is deeply worrying. Staff are at the heart of our university, the ones who make the difference when it comes to supporting our students and building the institution. To put it simply, you cannot grow a university by cutting staff.
"UEA’s reputation, the quality of its research and teaching, and the significant contribution it makes to the cultural, scientific and economic landscape of our region needs people. These cuts - planned across all four of our faculties and in professional services - jeopardise not only the careers of our colleagues, but the reputation and future success of the university.
"In 2023, after UEA announced a projected £40million deficit in 2023, we lost over 400 colleagues via voluntary severance/redundancy and the removal of posts. To be back in a similar position now raises fundamental questions about the governance and management of the institution.
"We worry that today’s announcement will push the university further towards a cycle of decline that it will not be able to recover from. UEA will not survive or thrive with fewer hardworking staff. There becomes a point where you can’t simply “do more, with less.”
"In the coming weeks and months, UEA UCU will be do everything in our power to work with the University’s executive team to protect the livelihoods of our colleagues and secure the future of our university."