University bosses told cost-cutting plan creates 'serious risk'

BOSSES at the cash-strapped University of Nottingham have been told their new cost-cutting plan risks pushing it down the global academic rankings and causing more financial trouble.

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY

The university's branch of the UCU (University and College Union) has expressed alarm about its proposals to increase the number of students per staff member, arguing it would restrict academics’ research time and severely impact the quality of teaching.

The union, which carried out weeks of strikes earlier this year over the institution's job cuts, is now moving towards restarting industrial action. It claims the university has broken the agreement it made with members in November, when strike action was suspended after university bosses said counter-proposals to controversial course closures would be "seriously considered”.

The university announced in November that it intended to end courses such as those in mental health and children’s nursing and close its modern languages and music departments.