Cardiff University announced plans to cut 400 academic staff members to ensure its long-term success and close a PS30million black hole in the budget.
The university will launch a 90-day formal consultation on proposed changes. This includes the possibility of closing schools and subjects and merging schools.
Vice-chancellor Wendy Larner stated: “The precarious position of many universities is well documented, especially in context of declining student numbers and rising costs pressures. The need to adapt and survive has been well documented.”
Cardiff University knows that continuing as we have been is not an option. The new strategy that we have co-created together with our community lays out a vision for the future of our university, where it will be collaborative, innovative and deliver value to Cardiff, Wales, and the rest of world.
In the context of tightening budgets, we must take tough decisions in order to achieve our ambitions, which include improving our education, research and staff experience.
The university stated that it would only implement compulsory redundancies if absolutely necessary. This is because the reduction in academic headcount of around 400 FTE (7% of total staff) will result in a loss of approximately 400 positions.
The following subjects and programmes are at risk: ancient history, modern language, music, nursing and religion.
Cardiff University was founded in 1884 and proposes “increased student and staff ratios”, while revising and simplifying its learning, teaching, and assessment approaches. The university is the largest in Wales, with over 33,000 students. Several schools are considering merging with complementary fields.
Prof Larner said: “We worked diligently to develop initial proposals for a smaller university that is refocused on our core and emerging strength – a University ready to leverage new opportunities academically, prepare students for a world in constant change, and meet the changing market demand as it arises.”
She said that these were just proposals, and the final plans would be determined by our community both internally and externally through formal consultation.
She said that the scale of the problem will not change, but we will refine and develop our approach over the next ninety days.
The cuts were a “cruel and unjustified” shock to the staff, according to Dr Joey Whitfield of the University and College Union.
“I have seen colleagues in tears.” She added that they’ll harm our members, students, the city and Wales in general. Union members were “prepared to fight compulsory redundancies with all their might”.
