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Wales Online
2 days ago
- General
- Wales Online
Bangor University archive campaigners 'overwhelmed' by support
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Campaigners fighting to protect the future of a "nationally significant" archives and special collections service at Bangor University say they have been "overwhelmed" by the strength of public support. Messages have flooded in from all over the world and a petition launched recently has already achieved almost 3,000 signatures. Organisers are now hoping that more people will sign the Save Your Archives online petition or write a letter to the university to help save the Archives and Special Collections from job cuts. Currently there are two full-time and two part-time staff and it was previously proposed that three could be lost, leaving just one person to run the department. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The news came after the university's vice-chancellor Professor Edmund Burke had emailed university staff warning of impending cuts within the university. The university, which has around 10,000 students, is looking to cut jobs across the board as part of a bid to save more than £5m. Senedd Members and Members of Parliament had taken up the fight, and 46 Gwynedd councillors had also signed a document expressing their "dismay" and pledging their support. Politicians Siân Gwenllian MS, Liz Saville Roberts MP, and Rhun ap Iorwerth MS had met with the university's vice-chancellor to express their "serious concerns" over impact on the "nationally significant" resource. Last week, it was announced that the university would be re-reconsidering its proposals - although no decision has come yet. A consultation period comes to an end on Friday, June 13. Then the university's executive is expected to consider feedback from staff, students and external stakeholders. Elen Wyn Simpson, the archives and special collections manager for digital services, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the strength of support we have received and we are grateful to everyone that's taken the time to explain the importance of the Archives and Special Collections to them. "This is not just about jobs - it's about the future of our archival collections and of Bangor University as the custodian of our collections." The Archives and Special Collections is responsible for the collection and long-term preservation of manuscripts, archival collections and a diverse range of rare books and printed material, many dating back many centuries. Its earliest item is a charter issued by King Richard I at Canterbury to the Bishop of Coventry, dated November 30, 1189. "It's quite an important document that is used in teaching sessions with our students since it's an early example of new developments in the form of the English royal charter," Elen said. Among its extensive collection, the Archives holds items including the original manuscripts of famous Welsh poets RS Thomas and Hedd Wyn. It is also the keeper of Welsh estate papers including Penrhyn, Mostyn, Baron Hill, Bodorgan, and Plas Newydd. There are also documents relating to the Welsh who emigrated to Patagonia. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Elen added: "We are continuing to ask people to sign the petition and if people feel strongly about the cuts we are facing, we are asking them to write a letter of support. "We don't know what will happen at the moment, nothing has been decided yet, so we hope people will still continue to support us." To sign the Save Your Archives petition visit: To write a letter send to: communications@
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Bangor University archive campaigners 'overwhelmed' by support
Campaigners fighting to protect the future of a "nationally significant" archives and special collections service at Bangor University say they have been "overwhelmed" by the strength of public support. Messages have flooded in from all over the world and a petition launched recently has already achieved almost 3,000 signatures. Organisers are now hoping that more people will sign the Save Your Archives online petition or write a letter to the university to help save the Archives and Special Collections from job cuts. Currently there are two full-time and two part-time staff and it was previously proposed that three could be lost, leaving just one person to run the department. Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday The news came after the university's vice-chancellor Professor Edmund Burke had emailed university staff warning of impending cuts within the university. The university, which has around 10,000 students, is looking to cut jobs across the board as part of a bid to save more than £5m. Senedd Members and Members of Parliament had taken up the fight, and 46 Gwynedd councillors had also signed a document expressing their "dismay" and pledging their support. Politicians Siân Gwenllian MS, Liz Saville Roberts MP, and Rhun ap Iorwerth MS had met with the university's vice-chancellor to express their "serious concerns" over impact on the "nationally significant" resource. Last week, it was announced that the university would be re-reconsidering its proposals - although no decision has come yet. A consultation period comes to an end on Friday, June 13. Then the university's executive is expected to consider feedback from staff, students and external stakeholders. Elen Wyn Simpson, the archives and special collections manager for digital services, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the strength of support we have received and we are grateful to everyone that's taken the time to explain the importance of the Archives and Special Collections to them. "This is not just about jobs - it's about the future of our archival collections and of Bangor University as the custodian of our collections." The Archives and Special Collections is responsible for the collection and long-term preservation of manuscripts, archival collections and a diverse range of rare books and printed material, many dating back many centuries. Its earliest item is a charter issued by King Richard I at Canterbury to the Bishop of Coventry, dated November 30, 1189. "It's quite an important document that is used in teaching sessions with our students since it's an early example of new developments in the form of the English royal charter," Elen said. Among its extensive collection, the Archives holds items including the original manuscripts of famous Welsh poets RS Thomas and Hedd Wyn. It is also the keeper of Welsh estate papers including Penrhyn, Mostyn, Baron Hill, Bodorgan, and Plas Newydd. There are also documents relating to the Welsh who emigrated to Patagonia. Elen added: "We are continuing to ask people to sign the petition and if people feel strongly about the cuts we are facing, we are asking them to write a letter of support. "We don't know what will happen at the moment, nothing has been decided yet, so we hope people will still continue to support us."
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Bangor University to reconsider cuts to archive service
Some of the planned cuts at a Welsh university where dozens of jobs are at risk will be reconsidered after "serious concerns" were cuts to the archive and special collection service at Bangor University were part of a university cost-saving plan which threatens 78 prompted politicians to intervene, with Plaid Cymru MSs Siân Gwenllian, Liz Saville Roberts and Rhun ap Iorwerth meeting with the university's vice-chancellor, Professor Edmund officials have now confirmed that the proposal to cut three archive staff roles is "under review". Gwenllian, who represents the Arfon constituency, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "Members of staff and students have approached me with concerns about different aspects of the proposals, and I was able to convey them directly to the vice-chancellor and senior representatives."I'm glad they have listened to the strength of feeling and are now reconsidering the proposed archive cuts."We will now continue to make a case for a halt to compulsory redundancies and for the in-year support provided by the Welsh government to be used to reduce job losses."We will continue to make the case for the government to step in with more support."Saville Roberts added the archives at Bangor were "of national significance"."Ensuring continued public access to this vital historical resource is essential for our understanding of Welsh history, identity, and culture. I welcome the university's decision to pause and reconsider."
Wales Online
7 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
'We're worried sick about job losses' say staff as university posts huge deficit
'We're worried sick about job losses' say staff as university posts huge deficit Universities around Wales are cutting jobs with Bangor now saying it had a £13m deficit at the end of last year, with more financial pressure on the way Students at the Ffriddoedd halls at Bangor University (Image: Bangor University ) Bangor University is £13m in deficit, according to its delayed financial report which has just been published. Staff at the university have responded by saying they are "worried sick about the forced loss of their livelihood", with hundreds of jobs going and some employees facing compulsory redundancy as the university desperately tries to balance the books. All other universities in Wales published their annual financial reports either late last year or earlier this year. They are all under pressure with only two, the University of Wales Trinity St David and Wrexham - posting a surplus. In its report, Bangor University included warnings from its Vice Chancellor Professor Edmund Burke of financial problems ahead. A combined deficit of more than £70m is expected to be reported by universities in Wales at the end of this academic year - but the figure could well be higher. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. A Bangor University spokesperson said: "Bangor University has published its financial statements for the year to 31 July 2024. Whilst they are normally published in December, this year they were delayed because of the need to renegotiate some of the terms of the loans. "The year to 31 July 2024 was challenging with income falling by 4% to £170 million. This was largely due to a reduction in EU research grant income as schemes have been closed after Brexit. In the year there was an underlying deficit of £13m The financial savings action currently underway is designed to improve financial performance, the university is making good progress on delivering the savings needed. " Dr Vivek Thuppil, UCU union representative and lecturer at Bangor University, said staff were under enormous strain as a result of cuts, which would also affect students:. 'The financial difficulties at Bangor University has hit our members hard. At the university, 250 staff are already leaving as a result of accepting voluntary severance," he said. "This is already resulting in severe impacts on staff workload for those left behind next year. Unfortunately, despite this, the university is still aiming to make a further reduction of 100 staff, including through the process of compulsory redundancy if necessary. "Our members are worried sick about the forced loss of their livelihoods. No university in Wales has gone down the route of compulsory redundancy in more than a decade, and it is vital that Bangor University is not the first one to cross this ignominious rubicon, which could cause a domino effect in the rest of the country." Dr Thuppil called on the Welsh Government to help Bangor University "as a major employer and generator of economic activity in north Wales", and said the university should use some of its reserves instead of cutting jobs. In the report Professor Burke and Bangor University council chair Marian Wyn Jones blamed factors beyond the university's control for financial troubles. "The university continues to face unprecedented challenges due to historically static tuition fees for home undergraduate students which are set by the government, persistent inflationary pressures, and policy changes on international student visas," Ms Wyn Jones said. The Vice Chancellor added: " We are taking steps to bring our costs down to a sustainable level and to consider opportunities to grow our income." Earlier this month Bangor University, which has around 2,000 staff, announced a further 78 job losses on top of 200 already announced in February, saying it could not rule out compulsory redundancies. Its annual report shows that 26 of Bangor University staff, excluding the Vice Chancellor received pay (excluding employer's pension contributions) of between £100,000 and £184,999 in 2023-24 compared with 18 paid between those rates the previous year. Hundreds of job losses have also been announced Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales, while Swansea is carrying out a "curriculum review" and the University of Wales Trinity St David has shut its Lampeter campus. Earlier this week Cardiff University, which faced outcry at proposals to close entire departments in wide ranging cuts, rowed back again on its plans. It said it won't now shut its music and modern languages courses having also previously shelved its proposed closure of the school of nursing. But proposals to close ancient history, theology and religion courses are still on the table with the revised cuts proposal going for final approval to the university's council on June 17. In January Cardiff University planned to axe 500 jobs but has now reduced that to 138 thanks to staff taking voluntary redundancy and savings plans submitted by departments. Around 400 staff are still under threat of redundancy there and many have left already, the UCU has said. Article continues below Cardiff Met still aims to cut up to 14% of its teaching workforce with compulsory redundancy notices served in April. The proposed compulsory redundancies come on the back of three rounds of voluntary severance. Up to 61 academic staff are under threat of compulsory job losses there with a total 100 jobs at risk," the UCU said.
North Wales Chronicle
28-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Bangor University: archive job cuts ‘assault on Welsh language'
The university, which has around 10,000 students, is looking to cut jobs across the board as part of its bid to save more than £5m. A consultation was recently launched to reduce staff costs equal to around 78 full-time equivalent roles within the university. A spokesperson for the university recently said: 'The university has launched a consultation regarding proposed changes as part of a broader cost-reduction strategy.' On hearing that the university was proposing to cut 75% of the staff in the Archives and Special Collections department, 46 Cyngor Gwynedd councillors joined forces by signing a letter to the university's vice-chancellor, Professor Edmund Burke, calling for a rethink. The Archives and Special Collections is responsible for the collection and long-term preservation of manuscripts, archival collections and a diverse range of rare books and printed material. The VC had recently emailed university staff warning of impending cuts within the university. He had said it followed a fall in international students and the upcoming changes to national insurance by the UK Government, which would add to staffing costs. MORE NEWS: The councillors' letter reads: 'We, the Gwynedd county councillors named below, are thoroughly dismayed at Bangor University's proposed cuts to the Archives and Special Collections service, a move that would result in a 75% reduction in the Archives' staff. 'The proposed cuts are an assault on Gwynedd's heritage, on a significant part of our nation's Welsh-language heritage and on an organic Welsh-speaking workplace that has served Gwynedd's local historians for decades. 'By virtue of its history and location, the University has a moral responsibility to respect and value the part of our local heritage entrusted to its care. 'Therefore, we call on you to reconsider, to realize the extent of your error, and to shield this important service from any impending cuts.' According to the university website the Archives and Special Service's aim is 'to ensure that our resources are accessible to all researchers, free of charge'. It adds: 'We actively promote these collections as valuable research and learning tools and engage the wider community in our activities as well as the staff and students within the University.' Siân Gwenllian MS had recently raised urgent concerns in the Senedd over the significant job cuts proposed by the university. In a direct question to the Welsh Government, she had called for a statement on how the Government planned to secure long-term financial sustainability for the higher education sector, and what specific support could be offered to Bangor University in light of its current crisis. In response, Welsh Government Minister Jane Hutt had acknowledged the 'widespread pressures' facing higher education institutions across Wales, and highlighted the importance of workforce involvement and trade union engagement in the consultation process.
