More jobs to go at Swansea University

UNIVERSITY has opened a voluntary severance scheme for staff before Christmas as it grapples with its budget despite already making cuts.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK

Swansea University said the voluntary exit scheme would be open for professional services staff until the new year.

A new voluntary exit scheme will also be opened for some academic staff as a means to avoid compulsory redundancy.

On Thursday a spokesperson for the university said it was “committed to providing a further voluntary exit scheme” for academic staff “in areas where further savings are required”.

The university, which in September announced £30m cuts this academic year - £25m of which will come from staff costs - did not confirm which academic subject areas have now been identified as needing further savings.

Asked which areas or departments, the spokesperson said: “As these plans remain under development we will not be commenting further at this stage.”

Compulsory redundancies have not been ruled out but the university but said that would be a last resort.

The University and College Union (UCU) warned compulsory job losses were a red line and may prompt industrial action.

Blaming pressures such as falling numbers of international students, the institution warned that, like many other universities, it must make savings to ensure its future financial sustainability.

The UCU said Swansea University has made £50m cost savings over the last two years as part of a “financial sustainability programme” which has seen nearly 400 staff leave under voluntary severance scheme and the removal of nearly 200 vacancies.