Aberdeen University extends redundancy scheme in face of £5.5m black hole
A union representing staff has said there is further uncertainty over jobs, with the institution aiming to save £5.5m before the next academic year.
In April, staff promotions were frozen, and recruitment was paused to plug its financial black hole.
But in an email to staff this week, management said it was 'cautiously optimistic' it had achieved around £4m worth of savings.
With a remaining £1.5m budget gap, the voluntary severance and enhanced retirement scheme has been extended until September.
Five schools continue to be the primary focus. They are: Business – excluding Business Management
Geosciences – excluding Archaeology
Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture
Natural and Computing Sciences – excluding Computing Science
Social Sciences – excluding Politics, International Relations, and Sociology
The deadline for applications is now September 5, 2025.
A University spokesperson said: 'Thanks to collective efforts undertaken across our community to identify revenue generating opportunities and cost-saving measures, together with take-up of the Voluntary Severance and Enhanced Retirement schemes, we are cautiously optimistic we have achieved around £4m of savings towards addressing our £5.5m budget gap and £6.5m agreed deficit.
''Further cost savings and income generation are still needed as our Three-Year Financial Plan requires the University to break even by 2028.'
David Clough, Aberdeen UCU (University and College Union) co-chair told STV News compulsory redundancies must be ruled out.
'The email from Senior Management today leaves university staff uncertain about whether their jobs will be part of the cost-cutting measures planned to fix the university's finances and whether their roles will fit in the planned new operating model,' he said.
''UCU members are active in generating income for the University, are keen to contribute to envisaging a sustainable future for it but are tired of doing so with their own jobs under threat. UCU negotiators continue to call on Senior Management to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of their plans.'
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Strawberry farms in Scotland see fruitful picking season
A warm, sunny spring is credited with giving crops an early boost, leading to larger, juicier berries making their way to supermarket shelves across the UK. Mains of Errol farm in the Carse of Gowrie, located near Perth, is home to over 800,000 strawberry plants. Its farmers expect to harvest around 1000 tonnes by the end of the picking season, which could potentially run into November. READ MORE: Japanese firm completes takeover of Highland port Yields so far are up by 40 to 50% compared to 2024's picking season, with strong crops across all strawberry varieties and tunnel types. During peak season, the farm picks, packs, and distributes up to 90 tonnes of fruit each week. While the volume is welcome, the increase brings challenges in quality control and managing shelf life. 'It could be five days before a consumer goes in and picks up that punnet and that needs to have some sort of life in a fridge,' farmer Jamie Arnot told STV News. 'So we need size to be right, shape's important, shelf life's key, and then how sweet they are is obviously – well, that goes without saying.' READ MORE: SNP to press ahead with Palestine recognition vote as Labour 'bargaining' with Israel Unexpected surpluses can also create issues across the supply chain, particularly in strong growing years like this one, as excess waste can create pressure for both suppliers and farmers. Arnot said that an extra 100 tonnes a week going into August makes it vital to find homes for the fruit as quickly as possible to avoid waste. The industry continues to face challenges from an unpredictable climate, but this year's harvest has shown what's possible under optimal growing conditions.
STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Donald Trump hits out at taxes and says North Sea oil is 'treasure chest'
Donald Trump has hit out at taxes on North Sea oil, saying the resource is a 'treasure chest for the United Kingdom'. The US president is in the north east of Scotland as he prepares to open a new golf course at his resort in Menie. Posting on his Truth Social network, on Tuesday, the President said: 'North Sea Oil is a treasure chest for the United Kingdom. The taxes are so high, however, that it makes no sense. They have essentially told drillers and oil companies that, 'we don't want you'. 'Incentivize the drillers, fast. A vast fortune to be made for the UK, and far lower energy costs for the people!' After meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday, Trump is to cut the ribbon on the 18-hole course at Trump International Golf Links on the Menie Estate on Tuesday before returning to Washington on Air Force One. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Google launches AI Mode in the UK amid ‘major shift' in online search
Google has unveiled the UK rollout of a new artificial intelligence-powered tool it believes will revolutionise the traditional online search. Hailed as its most 'powerful AI search to date', the US tech giant is launching AI Mode in Google Search across the UK this week, allowing users to ask lengthy and complicated questions, as well as follow-ups. AI Mode will start to appear as a tab on the Google Search results page and in the Google app for Android and Apple smartphones from Tuesday, and will be available to all UK users over the next few days. The function was launched in the US at the end of May, followed by India earlier in July, and comes in addition to Google's AI Overview, which is now built into its searches. Hema Budaraju, Google's vice president of product management for search, told the PA news agency it heralds a 'major shift' in the way people are using online searches, with questions now becoming longer and more complex. In a blog announcing the launch, Ms Budaraju said: 'AI Mode is a new, intuitive way to address your most complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups, and satisfy your curiosity in a richer way.' She added: 'AI Mode is particularly helpful for exploratory questions and for more complicated tasks like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos. 'In fact, we've found that early users of AI Mode are asking questions that are two or three times the length of traditional search queries.' The tool is powered by Google's latest AI model, Gemini 2.5, and allows users to ask nuanced questions that would have previously required multiple searches. The new search works by breaking down questions into sub-topics and sending out a range of queries on the behalf of users. It will also allow so-called multimodal searches, either by text, voice or pictures. Ms Budaraju said it should make it possible for people to 'find information that was previously much harder to find'. 'This is the beginning of a major shift,' she told PA. Google said it was improving factuality, but that where AI Mode is not confident in the answer, it will instead provide a set of web search results. 'And as with any early-stage AI product, we won't always get it right, but we are committed to continuous improvement,' Ms Budaraju said. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
