The number of UK universities cutting jobs has passed 50, with leaders claiming drastic action is required to prevent institutions going under, but some are worried that the speed and scale of the restructuring has gone too far with no way back even if financial conditions improve.
A fresh wave of restructuring programmes – announced either side of Easter – means that a third of the country’s universities are now formally making redundancies, with many losing departments and services as a result, according to an influential list compiled by the Queen Mary University of London branch of the University and College Union.
Liesbeth Corens, a senior lecturer in history who has been collating the figures, said they were likely just the tip of the iceberg, given the tally only includes those cutting permanent staff and not other cost-cutting measures such as opting against renewing temporary contracts.
She said institutions were collectively losing hundreds of academics and professional staff but claimed that “short-term cuts are not the answer” and will do little to address the structural issues in the sector.
