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| Cardiff University plans to cut 400 jobs and axe courses | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The university has confirmed it is planning to cut hundreds of jobs and to close some courses | The university has confirmed it is planning to cut hundreds of jobs and to close some courses |
| Cardiff University has confirmed plans to cut 400 full-time jobs amid a funding shortfall. | Cardiff University has confirmed plans to cut 400 full-time jobs amid a funding shortfall. |
| The cost-cutting proposals could also involve course closures, as well as department mergers, with nursing, music and modern languages among the subjects being cut. | |
| The Cardiff University and College Union (UCU) called the measures "cruel and unnecessary" and said it would fight plans for compulsory redundancies. | |
| The university said it would only make compulsory redundancies "if absolutely necessary". | The university said it would only make compulsory redundancies "if absolutely necessary". |
| Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said "it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are". | Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said "it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are". |
| She said the university needed to "take difficult decisions" due to "declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive". | She said the university needed to "take difficult decisions" due to "declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive". |
| "I know that these proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainly and anxiety for those potentially impacted," she added. | "I know that these proposals impact some staff more than others and they will cause a great deal of uncertainly and anxiety for those potentially impacted," she added. |
| Dr Joey Whitfield from Cardiff UCU said they were "absolutely shell shocked" by the "cruel and unnecessary" cuts. | Dr Joey Whitfield from Cardiff UCU said they were "absolutely shell shocked" by the "cruel and unnecessary" cuts. |
| "I've had colleagues in tears. They'll damage our members, our students, the city, and Wales as a whole," he added. | |
| He said union members "are prepared to fight any compulsory redundancies tooth and nail". | |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said they were "very disappointed that nursing courses form part of these proposals" and that it was "working urgently" to ensure the same number of nurses are trained in Wales. | A Welsh government spokesperson said they were "very disappointed that nursing courses form part of these proposals" and that it was "working urgently" to ensure the same number of nurses are trained in Wales. |
| They said they understood "the serious concern" the announcement will cause. | They said they understood "the serious concern" the announcement will cause. |
| "Universities across the UK are facing a challenging financial period due to a range of factors and we expect all institutions to work with trade unions, staff and students on any proposals," they added. | "Universities across the UK are facing a challenging financial period due to a range of factors and we expect all institutions to work with trade unions, staff and students on any proposals," they added. |
| Conservative Senedd member Natasha Asghar MS, said she feared "that these concerns will be repeated across our universities in Wales". | |
| Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson, Cefin Campbell MS said the job losses would have "a devastating impact", damaging Wales' "reputation as a nation of learning". | |
| Cardiff University is the largest in Wales, and a member of the Russell Group | Cardiff University is the largest in Wales, and a member of the Russell Group |
| The subjects and programmes being cut also include ancient history and religion and theology. | The subjects and programmes being cut also include ancient history and religion and theology. |
| The university said the proposals would also include the following subject mergers: | The university said the proposals would also include the following subject mergers: |
| Chemistry, earth sciences and physics being merged to create the School of Natural Sciences | Chemistry, earth sciences and physics being merged to create the School of Natural Sciences |
| Computer science and maths merging to become the School of Data Science | Computer science and maths merging to become the School of Data Science |
| Social sciences, geography and planning merged to become the School of Human and Social Sciences | Social sciences, geography and planning merged to become the School of Human and Social Sciences |
| English, communication and philosophy, Welsh and remaining elements of history, archaeology and religion and modern languages merged into the School of Global Humanities | English, communication and philosophy, Welsh and remaining elements of history, archaeology and religion and modern languages merged into the School of Global Humanities |
| The consultation will run for three months, with final plans for approval expected to be considered by University Council in June 2025. | The consultation will run for three months, with final plans for approval expected to be considered by University Council in June 2025. |
| Criminology student Kristin Millward said she was worried about the impact on staff and on her course | |
| Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, 57, professor of ancient history at Cardiff University, said the news was "devastating" and "shocking". | |
| He said "major sections of our teaching" in the College of Humanity would be lost, with his own department being "taught out so it won't exist any longer". | |
| "How on earth are we to continue trying to teach over the next few years, with a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads?" he added. | |
| Kristin Millward, from London, studies criminology and sociology, and said hearing the announcement was "scary". | |
| "My lecturer just now was saying he's not sure about his job security - regardless of not being one of the university courses on the chopping block, it is very scary knowing I could be gone at any moment," she said. | |
| "You don't expect to enrol, pay all this money and have this happen to you," she added. | |
| The 20-year-old said her housemate studies nursing and does not know what she will do afterwards, but they are all worried about their future. | |
| "Cardiff is a really great place to be for uni, I really enjoy it and it would be a shame to have people not be able to stay here anymore," she said. | |
| University of Cardiff media student Gabriella Coviell, 18, said she was worried about any potential impacts the cuts may have on the quality of teaching. | |
| Ms Coviell added that lecturers "put their hearts into teaching the courses" and she was sad to hear the announcement of the job cuts. | |
| Budget black hole | Budget black hole |
| The university had previously said it had to take action to address a £30m black hole in its budget with the pressure of increased costs and falling international student numbers affecting the whole higher education sector. | The university had previously said it had to take action to address a £30m black hole in its budget with the pressure of increased costs and falling international student numbers affecting the whole higher education sector. |
| An offer of voluntary severance between June and September 2024 was taken up and approved for 155 staff and a second round closed earlier this month. | An offer of voluntary severance between June and September 2024 was taken up and approved for 155 staff and a second round closed earlier this month. |
| The Welsh government has said that university tuition fees will rise to £9,535 a year from September 2025, in line with an increase in fees for English universities announced by the UK government. | The Welsh government has said that university tuition fees will rise to £9,535 a year from September 2025, in line with an increase in fees for English universities announced by the UK government. |
| Cardiff University is the largest in Wales, with 32,725 students in 2023. | Cardiff University is the largest in Wales, with 32,725 students in 2023. |
| It is a member of the Russell group of 24 leading and research-intensive institutions, often considered to be the most elite in the country. | It is a member of the Russell group of 24 leading and research-intensive institutions, often considered to be the most elite in the country. |
| Other universities across in the UK have been cutting staff in an attempt to address shortfalls in their budgets. | Other universities across in the UK have been cutting staff in an attempt to address shortfalls in their budgets. |
| Staff at another Russell group institution, Newcastle University, are being balloted for strike action as the university attempts to tackle a £35m funding black hole. | Staff at another Russell group institution, Newcastle University, are being balloted for strike action as the university attempts to tackle a £35m funding black hole. |
| But there have been warnings that fee increases will not resolve the financial problems faced by universities. | But there have been warnings that fee increases will not resolve the financial problems faced by universities. |
| Additional reporting by Sian Elin Dafydd |