Cardiff University issues update on job losses and warns more cuts are needed
Vice Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner said hoped for £28m savings aren't sufficient and there will need to be cuts to professional services and estates
Cardiff University
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
Cardiff University has announced a final update on its controversial cuts programme - the case which will go to the full council on June 17 for consideration. With a further 151 full time academic posts lost through voluntary redundancy since its last update the university said it is now looking to shed 69 full time academic posts to deliver its revised 220 target, but more cuts are on the way.
In an update to staff this lunchtime Vice Chancellor Professor Wendy Larner said despite the proposals saving an estimated £28m: "These savings do not fully close the financial gap, and further work will be required, including diversifying our income streams and reducing professional services and estates costs."
Her update confirmed again the proposed closures of the ancient history, religion and theology departments and retaining the schools of nursing, modern languages and music, but with smaller numbers of students. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Professor Wendy Larner is vice-chancellor of Cardiff University
(Image: Jared Gray )
The number of academic schools will be cut through closures and mergers from 24 to 16 and staff to student ratios will be lower, the update adds.
The university originally announced 400 job cuts when it unveiled a huge savings plan in January, but that number has fallen to 69 as staff leave through voluntary redundancy and non-filling of vacant posts.
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Bosses announced a u-turn on widely opposed plans to shut its music and modern languages departments last month following a decision not to close its nursing school, as originally planned. The about turn on keeping all three of these departments follows a massive backlash against the cuts with the Welsh Government calling on bosses to use reserves and high-profile backing for the music school from stars such as Sir Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Stormzy.
On jobs Professor Larner's message to staff today adds: "The initial target for reduction in academic staff FTE was 400. Acceptance of alternative proposals that involved retaining staff capacity to deliver Cardiff-based programmes and new enterprises such as our transnational erducation partnerships reduced the target to 220 FTE. 151 academic staff FTE have left the university voluntarily, meaning that we now need 69 academic staff FTE to deliver the 220 FTE target."
Professor Larner said that if agreed the proposals will:
deliver a gross saving per annum of £20 million, and a net saving of £14.1 million
in combination with the wider voluntary severance scheme, deliver gross savings of £28.4 million and net savings of £22.5 million
But even that won't be enough and non-academic staff cuts as well as savings on estate costs will be needed.
Universities around Wales and the UK are all facing financial pressure. They blame static home tuition fees, falling numbers of higher paying international students, rising costs, an increase in National Insurance and tighter visa restrictions for international students wanting to bring dependents to the UK with them.
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