UCU calls on Sheffield vice-chancellor to resign

More than 1,500 staff members at the University of Sheffield have backed a motion of no confidence in the institution’s executive board and council.

The University and College Union (UCU) called on vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts to resign in the wake of the vote, saying confidence was at an “all-time low”.

The university recorded an underlying operating deficit of £11.5 million in 2024-25 after it suffered a £56 million fall in income for the year, which was mainly driven by a 22 per cent reduction in international tuition fee income.

It has undergone several restructuring exercises in recent years, most recently consulting on cuts within its renowned chemistry department, with the likely loss of six full-time equivalent (FTE) posts, about 20 per cent of employees.

A similar restructure is also taking place in Sheffield’s materials science and engineering department, where eight FTE posts are set to be cut, again about 20 per cent, while further posts are set to go in East Asian studies, mainly in Japanese and Korean studies.

Last year UCU held 16 days of strike action across November and December over plans announced by the university to make staff savings of £23 million, which the union has argued would equate to about 400 job losses.

Academics who participated were told they would lose pay not only for the days they walked out but also for not rescheduling teaching lost to the strike.

UCU, which has already called on the academic community to boycott the institution as a result, said, of the 1,900 staff and postgraduate researchers participating in the vote, more than 1,600 backed the motion.

“Members’ jobs continue to be at risk, leaving staff constantly stressed, with high workloads, increased pressure due to job insecurity and in danger of burnout,” UCU said.

It said management had “refused to rule out compulsory redundancies and at-risk letters have been sent out to staff in the department of East Asian studies, with at least four more departments also set for cuts”.

This was on top of the more than 500 staff who have lost their jobs since November 2024.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “It is little surprise that our members’ confidence is at an all-time low given the continued attack on staff at the University of Sheffield.  

“There is no business or educational case for management’s plans and it is essential that governors listen to staff concerns and challenge the flawed management being led by the vice-chancellor. We fear these cuts are the thin end of the wedge and, unless urgent action is taken now, Sheffield staff and students will suffer real harm in the future. The vice-chancellor has lost the confidence of staff and must either change plans or stand down.”

Sheffield has previously said that it was having to adapt to changing sector demands and shifts in student enrolment patterns and “doing nothing is not an option”.

It said “careful reviews” were taking place of structures “in line with current and future teaching, research, and support needs” and the final number of redundancies is expected to be very small with no schools or disciplines closing.

The university was contacted for further comment.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com