UK university job cuts and industrial issues
Universities may pause major staffing changes as they are predicted to save millions, experts say, but ‘volatility’ of scheme means some will press on
‘Unacceptable’ that academics are facing more redundancies, says UCU, but university insists it must adapt
Broadcaster Matthew Bannister leads star-studded group of alumni in bid to protect site that has launched dozens of careers
Leading department being in the firing line shows how changing student preferences are fundamentally reshaping universities
Russell Group institution cites changing student demand as it puts 500 staff at risk of redundancy, with 150 jobs set to go
University defends decision to shutter provision after more than a century because of declining recruitment
Vice-chancellor says action must be taken to ‘remain financially sustainable’
UCU declares ‘no confidence’ in Lincoln management while redundancy plans prompt fresh dispute in north east
University says further savings needed to ‘survive’ but Màiri McAllan urges pause to ‘interrogate the evidence’
University to keep employing academics directly after predictions that contribution rates to Teachers’ Pension Scheme will come down
Edinburgh extends pay deductions to those who refuse to cover for colleagues taking part in industrial action
Interim leader of arts institution takes swipe at striking UCU branch, saying it is ‘not facing up to harsh financial realities’
With hundreds of jobs on the line and dozens of courses at risk, staff living through one of the biggest university restructuring projects of recent years fear they are shouldering the blame for wider failures
Members at union’s congress debate whether to hold another national ballot despite failure to reach threshold last year
‘Decisive action’ is needed to address structural deficit despite recent cost-saving measures, says principal
Union tells staff to walk out after academics taking part in boycott told they will lose full pay
UCU leader tells annual congress that sector faces threats like never before and issues cannot be fixed under current model
Union fears remaining staff will face even heavier workloads as 500 jobs have already been lost over past two years
UCU general secretary tells Times Higher Education that university risks being changed ‘beyond recognition’ if 600 job losses go ahead
Union warns that female nursing staff face being moved on to inferior terms while male engineers retain research rights
University faces major escalation of industrial action after putting 2,700 people at risk of redundancy
Pressure grows on institutions to pause major restructures while sector awaits news of how much coming changes will save employers
Annual talks between employers and unions end with offer marginally better than last year amid ‘bleak future’ for some institutions
We discuss the fallout from tens of thousands of layoffs across UK higher education after a THE survey exposed the anger, fear and stress that pervade the sector
University urged to follow Oxford’s lead and give staff extra allowance to cope with city’s high living costs
Vice-chancellor defends deep job losses at embattled institution, insisting restructure will help it adapt to changed environment in higher education
Automation may be used as an excuse to cut further posts, experts warn, even if it isn’t capable of replacing academics
Universities say financial pressures forcing their hands as staff discontent grows over cost-saving measures
The second part of Times Higher Education’s UK University Redundancy Survey examines the impact that the waves of layoffs have had on those left behind – and reveals a sector riven by rock-bottom morale, chronic overwork and deep mistrust. Paul Jump reports
University says programmes no longer financially viable owing to drops in recruitment
Planned boycott at Nottingham could disrupt some students’ ability to graduate, while staff at London South Bank University are also set to vote on industrial action
University says final decision yet to be made after document outlining new redundancy scheme leaked to press
The results of Times Higher Education’s UK University Redundancy Survey vividly illustrate the deep human impact of the redundancy crisis on those who have lost their jobs. But respondents are torn about whether they want to remain in a sector widely described as ‘toxic’. Paul Jump reports
Arts university hopes latest ‘transformation plan’ will help it survive, but staff fear much-lauded institution will be left ‘devastated’
Institution begins consultation on job losses but union says it is in the dark over who is at risk
University joins growing wave of post-92 institutions changing employment practices to cut pension costs
Summer exam season set for disruption due to industrial action amid rows over job cuts and pension changes
Group demands university leaders rule out compulsory redundancies and course closures following new cost-saving plans
University claims it had sought to hold off making redundancies but says cuts are now ‘unavoidable’ while a sustainable funding settlement is ‘not forthcoming’
Union opposes new savings target and questions plans for online courses
‘Vicious cycle’ of course closures means system ‘gradually losing breadth and depth of expertise’
Staff to be divided into teaching and research roles, with new starters hired via subsidiary firm
Sheffield Hallam union members ballot on following suit and London Met walkout dates confirmed as sector financial crisis drives cuts
Employers say claim would be ‘extremely challenging’ in time of financial hardship, as annual pay talks get under way
Decline in fixed-term and zero hours contracts ‘not good news’ in sector shedding thousands of positions
Some universities reduce staff teams by more than a fifth after year of cutbacks and job losses, new data show
Staff at Strathclyde and Durham vote to walk out in disputes over job losses and workloads, while Northumbria to be hit with disruption in row over pensions
Union wins industrial action ballot over move to freeze pay for those who refuse Teachers’ Pension Scheme switch
University claims staff are in breach of contract for failing to reorganise lectures lost during recent industrial action
Union leader says Southend campus closure will ‘take the heart out of the town’
New Ucea chair warns ‘much is at stake’ if unions and employers don’t collaborate to tackle ‘negative’ sector image, as he promises action on the ‘employee experience’
Analysis of UK sector accounts shows number of job losses well above predictions, with experts warning cuts are not over yet
University’s plan to cut more than 100 academic roles puts its reputation for inclusive education at risk, fears UCU
Union says reduction in staff numbers has led to increased pressure but university warns potential industrial action lacks justification
Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Stirling and Strathclyde threatened with industrial action as Scottish government’s review of higher education funding begins
Increases to staff-student ratios could send university into a ‘death spiral’, says union leader as vice-chancellor insists institution must act now
Union members back industrial action in early 2026 as row over pensions continues while Essex employees also launch ballot
English regulator warns multiple unnamed universities may have breached consumer protection legislation
Cardiff’s January announcement of plans to cut 400 academic jobs and close several departments prompted a media firestorm that heaped opprobrium on its vice-chancellor. But she also received lots of quiet support for her efforts to put the university back on an even financial keel, she tells Chris Havergal
Institution agrees to pay undisclosed sum after cutting unique master’s programme amid review of provision
