University of Sunderland staff facing significant redundancies
Written by Eleanor Tait on 10th October 2024
The University and College Union (UCU) has revealed that 76 members of Sunderland University staff could be made redundant in the coming months.
In an announcement on 30 September 2024, the UCU claimed that more than 1 in 10 academic staff at the University could face redundancies as early as Friday 1 November this year (2024).
BBC News recently reported that the possible redundancies may include the loss of 60 members of academic staff and 16 members of support staff.
The UCU have stated their commitment to opposing the job losses which they say would negatively impact student provision and the University’s overall reputation.
Jon Bryan, UCU regional support official, said: “The academic year has just started yet staff have returned to campus to learn they could be made redundant before Christmas.
“Cuts of this scale would severely damage student learning and harm the University’s standing.
“We will now seek out members’ views on how we fight back against these cuts, and the University could face a strike ballot unless it changes course and works with us to protect jobs.”
News of the planned cuts follows the University’s decision in March to permanently close arts venue, the National Glass Centre by 2026, amid financial pressures.
In an email statement on 8 October 2024, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland, Sir David Bell, reassured students about the University’s finances, and said: “The University is in a good financial position. However, we are not immune to the impact of tough external conditions, including fewer international students wanting to come to the UK to study, and running costs that have increased substantially (while home student fees have remained unchanged for many years.”
He added: “Most staff reductions have been made in subject areas where student numbers have declined. This means we are confident that these changes will not impact the quality of your teaching, support from staff, or your university experience.”