Durham University plans to cut hundreds of jobs in bid to reduce costs by £20m

Durham Castle is part of Durham University
-Credit:Durham University/Supplied


Durham University has announced plans to cut hundreds of jobs in a bid to reduce costs by £20m.

The university has announced its intention to reduce costs with £10m to be cut from non-academic positions in the current academic year, which is likely to mean around 200 job losses. That will be followed by reductions of £5m in non-academic staff and £5m in academic staff costs in the next academic year.

The university has opened a voluntary severance scheme in a bid to meet its job cut target but said it cannot rule out compulsory job losses. The voluntary scheme will open to all professional services staff on February 17 and a scheme will also be opened to academic staff who want to leave.

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Universities around the country are struggling to cope with rising costs and a fall in income that followed an immigration crackdown by the previous Government on overseas students. Durham, which is consistently ranked one of the UK's top universities, is following Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland universities in announcing the need to cut jobs.

The university, which first highlighted the need to make savings at the end of last year, saying that it was planning to reduce energy costs, delay capital building projects and manage things like staff vacancies, travel and the use of external consultants. It said it would aim to "prioritise excellent education, research, and frontline student support, as well as its capability for ongoing income generation." It has been in talks with unions and has now launched a formal consultation on its proposals.

University vice-chancellor Prof Karen O’Brien said: "Durham University remains a world-leading university, and our achievements in research and education are made possible by the talent, work, and dedication of our staff. However, we cannot fulfil our aims of remaining a world-class centre of research and education without a firmly established and sustainable financial base.

"We appreciate today’s announcement will be concerning to staff. We are committed to working with our recognised trade unions and our staff in an open, transparent, and timely way to achieve the savings required."