Aberystwyth University Plans £16m Savings, Union Says 150 Jobs Go
Aberystwyth University is starting another round of cuts, and the staff union puts the toll at 150 jobs. The university itself has not confirmed that number.
Why the university says it must act
Professor Jon Timmis, the vice-chancellor, links the move to changes in UK visa and immigration metrics. These, he said, have made it much harder for universities to recruit international students, who pay higher fees.
"Adapting universities to be financially sustainable cannot be achieved without some very difficult decisions," he said.
He added that the university wants to limit redundancies where it can. Staff will be able to apply for a voluntary severance scheme.
A review that reaches teaching
The university calls this a further phase of its restructure. It wants to save £16m by the end of 2027-28, and it places the plan within a sector facing unprecedented challenges.
An ongoing review of non-academic departments came first. Now every academic unit will be examined too, with portfolio and curriculum on the table alongside resourcing.
The stated goals are efficiency, student needs and financial sustainability.
What the union says
The local branch of the University and College Union (UCU) said members were devastated and angry after Wednesday's announcement. It expects 150 jobs to go. An earlier round of restructuring had already cost 150 colleagues over the last 18 months.
Most of the cuts, the union said, would fall on teaching and research staff. It called the plan "a devastating blow to our university, our students and our community".
Staff are shocked by the scale and speed of the proposals, the union added. It recognises the financial pressure the university is under, and said every year people are asked to do more with less. Those who remain will work harder than ever.
Earlier cost-cutting
In 2024 the university announced a significant change to how it operated, to save money. In August it paused a £53m renovation of the first home of the University of Wales, which was to become a cultural hub with a four-star hotel and a museum.
Cefin Campbell, the Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, described the cuts as a matter of concern but almost inevitable, given the challenges universities face. He said universities matter economically to their areas and to students.
Source: BBC News