The University of East Anglia failed to move as quickly as its competitors in targeting international student recruitment but can still be saved despite the “Darwinist” nature of UK higher education, according to the troubleshooter brought in to steady the ship at the under-fire institution.
David Maguire told Times Higher Education that efforts to cut £45 million from UEA’s budget over the next two years would be “difficult” but the task could be done while protecting the “jewels of the university”, including its renowned creative writing course.
The former University of Greenwich vice-chancellor, who has held interim posts at the universities of Dundee and Sussex, was brought in by the Norwich-based institution after the sudden departure of David Richardson in February. Professor Richardson quit as vice-chancellor when it emerged that UEA had repeatedly missed its student recruitment targets, helping to fuel a £13.9 million deficit, projected to double next year.
Employees have borne the brunt of the cutbacks, with 400 positions – equivalent to 10 per cent of the workforce – lost through redundancies, severance and resignations. The University and College Union has said morale is at “an all-time low”.
