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| Up to 70 university jobs at risk | Up to 70 university jobs at risk |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Up to 70 jobs are under threat at an internationally renowned plant research centre at Aberystwyth University. | Up to 70 jobs are under threat at an internationally renowned plant research centre at Aberystwyth University. |
| The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Ibers) said it faced a £2.4m deficit. | The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (Ibers) said it faced a £2.4m deficit. |
| Ibers director Wayne Powell told staff about the cutbacks on Friday, citing financial matters as the main problem. | Ibers director Wayne Powell told staff about the cutbacks on Friday, citing financial matters as the main problem. |
| The institute was formed out of merger between the university and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in 2007. | The institute was formed out of merger between the university and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research in 2007. |
| Ibers said it faced a funding deficit of £2.4m over the next two years, and it sees job cuts as a way of solving its financial worries. | Ibers said it faced a funding deficit of £2.4m over the next two years, and it sees job cuts as a way of solving its financial worries. |
| The posts under threat include technical, support, teaching, and research staff. | The posts under threat include technical, support, teaching, and research staff. |
| Losing potentially 70 jobs out of the Aberystwyth economy is a real blow Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones | Losing potentially 70 jobs out of the Aberystwyth economy is a real blow Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones |
| Ibers said it hoped the majority of job losses would be achieved by means of "redeployment within the university, voluntary redundancy and voluntary early retirement". | Ibers said it hoped the majority of job losses would be achieved by means of "redeployment within the university, voluntary redundancy and voluntary early retirement". |
| However, it said compulsory redundancies could not be ruled out. | However, it said compulsory redundancies could not be ruled out. |
| The proposed losses will be presented to the council of the university next Friday. | |
| A 30-day consultation period with staff and unions has started. | |
| Rural Affairs Minister and Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said the proposed cuts were a "real blow" to the economy in Aberystwyth. | Rural Affairs Minister and Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said the proposed cuts were a "real blow" to the economy in Aberystwyth. |
| She added: "I'm very disappointed to learn of the job cut proposals. | She added: "I'm very disappointed to learn of the job cut proposals. |
| "I've already discussed this matter with the vice-chancellor as well as with the director of Ibers. | "I've already discussed this matter with the vice-chancellor as well as with the director of Ibers. |
| "Following these discussions, it's clear to me that Aberystwyth University remains committed to developing the research and teaching role of Ibers, but feels that it needs to cut costs in order to position itself for the future. | "Following these discussions, it's clear to me that Aberystwyth University remains committed to developing the research and teaching role of Ibers, but feels that it needs to cut costs in order to position itself for the future. |
| "Losing potentially 70 jobs out of the Aberystwyth economy is a real blow. The local economy is heavily dependent on public sector-funded jobs and the challenging public finances which lie ahead may mean that this announcement is a sign of things to come." | "Losing potentially 70 jobs out of the Aberystwyth economy is a real blow. The local economy is heavily dependent on public sector-funded jobs and the challenging public finances which lie ahead may mean that this announcement is a sign of things to come." |
| Ceredigion MP Mark Williams said he would be contacting the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. | Ceredigion MP Mark Williams said he would be contacting the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government. |
| Ibers is a plant breeding research centre | Ibers is a plant breeding research centre |
| He added: "There have been some excellent developments at Ibers and great opportunities recognised by the assembly government at its merger, however this is unwelcome and represents a real threat to skilled jobs in north Ceredigion, and the research base of higher education in Wales." | He added: "There have been some excellent developments at Ibers and great opportunities recognised by the assembly government at its merger, however this is unwelcome and represents a real threat to skilled jobs in north Ceredigion, and the research base of higher education in Wales." |
| The Farmers' Union of Wales appealed to the assembly government and Westminster for extra funding for Ibers in a bid to prevent it shedding 70 jobs. | The Farmers' Union of Wales appealed to the assembly government and Westminster for extra funding for Ibers in a bid to prevent it shedding 70 jobs. |
| Despite its funding deficit, Ibers said it was pressing ahead with a multimillion-pound development programme that would provide "state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities" at both its Penglais and Gogerddan campuses. | Despite its funding deficit, Ibers said it was pressing ahead with a multimillion-pound development programme that would provide "state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities" at both its Penglais and Gogerddan campuses. |
| It is also creating 13 new posts. | It is also creating 13 new posts. |
| Ibers declined to comment on the possible job losses, but its director professor Wayne Powell said the development of the research facilities would put Ibers "at the forefront of cutting edge scientific research". | Ibers declined to comment on the possible job losses, but its director professor Wayne Powell said the development of the research facilities would put Ibers "at the forefront of cutting edge scientific research". |
| "This will enable Ibers to take full advantage of exciting developments in science, and align our activities to current global challenges, whilst continuing to meet the needs of public and private sector partners and research funders," he added. | "This will enable Ibers to take full advantage of exciting developments in science, and align our activities to current global challenges, whilst continuing to meet the needs of public and private sector partners and research funders," he added. |
| "The new appointments, coupled with the development of the new facilities, will provide fresh impetus as we work to improve the quality, volume and impact of our research." | "The new appointments, coupled with the development of the new facilities, will provide fresh impetus as we work to improve the quality, volume and impact of our research." |