Hundreds of jobs at risk at city university

SWANSEA University is consulting on shedding 55 academic posts across a wide range of subjects as it grapples with its budget.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK AND IAN LEWIS

The UCU union has warned in response that it will not rule out balloting members on industrial action.A formal consultation has been launched on the cuts and compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out, although that would be a last resort, the university said.

Swansea, which has 1,043 academic posts, said it was looking at a pool of 204 from which to shed 55 roles.

A spokesperson said no departments were earmarked for closure and no staff had yet received potential redundancy letters but subject areas "potentially directly impacted" were:

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

■Classics

■English literature and creative writing

■History

■Modern languages

■Economics

Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science:

■Public health

■Biomedical sciences and medical physics

■Medicine and physician associates

■Psychology

Faculty of Science and Engineering:

■Biosciences

■Computer science

■Engineering

■Geography

■Physics

The news comes a month after Swansea opened a voluntary severance scheme for nonacademic staff just before Christmas.

In September, the university announced £30 million cuts this academic year, £25 million of which will come from staff costs. The number of 55 academics to go as part of that has now been confirmed in principle, but is being consulted on formally as part of the process, the university said.

In a statement, Swansea blamed financial pressures which it said were affecting institutions across the UK. In Wales, universities have cut thousands of jobs in recent years. Bruising cuts and department closures at Cardiff University last year caused a huge outcry.