University of Lincoln in ‘state of anxiety’ over 285 prospective job cuts

The University of Lincoln is expected to make nearly 300 job cuts amid financial struggles across the higher education sector, drawing major criticism from trade unions.

The university has admitted the need for a “significant new phase of organisational restructuring and reform”, which the University and College Union (UCU) told the BBC will amount to 285 job losses, leaving staff in a “permanent state of anxiety”.

According to Unison, the proposed redundancies would amount to nearly 11% of the university’s workforce being laid off.

A spokesman from the university downplayed the figure, describing it as the “worst case scenario” and insisting that all available measures to reduce the amount of redundancies would be undertaken.

Elliot Dean, a regional organiser for Unison in the East Midlands, forewarned cuts would only perpetuate a ‘downward spiral’ for the university following previous job cuts in 2024

“We’re continuing to take prudent, practical measures to balance income and expenditure as we plan for a bright future ahead”, the spokesman said, adding that even with the sector-wide job losses, “[the] financial headwinds facing universities have not gone away”.

Chairman of the UCU, Dr Owen Clayton, rejected the organisation’s narrative, claiming that compulsory redundancies are not necessary and noting this was the crossing of a “red line” for its members.

The union has previously equated the “vampiric cuts” of higher education institutions with university leaders exploiting the ongoing funding crisis to reduce expenditure.

Elliot Dean, a regional organiser for Unison in the East Midlands, forewarned cuts would only perpetuate a “downward spiral” for the university following previous job cuts in 2024, which culled one in ten academic staff.

[The University of Nottingham’s] President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Norman, echoed Lincoln’s concerns by suggesting that layoffs were due to ‘grappling with significant financial challenges’

The 2024 cuts were blamed on the government, with Vice-Chancellor Professor Neal Juster citing a  “perfect storm” of government policy and highlighting the detrimental impacts of the 2017 tuition fee freeze and rising inflation rates.

The UCU, however, rejected this narrative, as it has again done with the ongoing redundancy plans.

This news comes as the University of Nottingham has considered culling 250 jobs.

The university’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Norman, echoed Lincoln’s concerns by suggesting that layoffs were due to the sector “grappling with significant financial challenges”.

The UCU expressed similar distaste at the cuts, with one representative saying they were “really disappointed” with Nottingham’s plans.