New research warns of ‘alarming’ underestimation in university job cuts, as over 20,000 jobs at risk

As many as 20,000 higher education jobs could be at risk, as a new survey has revealed the true extent of redundancies facing the sector. 

Rebecca Harrison, a former lecturer at the Open University, and David Harvie, who previously served as the University and College Union’s (UCU) treasurer, surveyed 349 higher education staff across 97 institutions, and noted significant shortfalls between projected and actual job losses.

The dire fiscal performance of UK universities has prompted a continual stream of sackings, with the most sizeable recent redundancy announcements including the loss of one in five academic jobs at the University of Lancaster and the loss of 400 jobs at the University of Sheffield, as part of its ‘New Schools’ restructuring project.

On top of a projected 8,900 formal sackings, 11,500 informal redundancies are set to occur

The research indicates that, as the financial viability of the sector is being called into question, far more job losses are to be expected as a result of ‘back-door’ redundancies.

On top of a projected 8,900 formal sackings, 11,500 informal redundancies are set to occur as a result of the non-renewal of fixed-term contracts, hiring freezes, voluntary redundancy schemes, and fire and rehire practices.

A leading example of industrial conflict over ‘back-door’ redundancies is ongoing at the Open University, which remains in conflict with the UCU over its attempts to “bully the process” of contract renegotiation.

Harvie criticised the ‘highly secretive’ nature of [covenants between banks and universities], suggesting such financial decisions should be open to complete public consideration and scrutiny

The Open University has accused the UCU of mischaracterising the ongoing row, which, despite raging for several years, has seen no public resolution.

Harrison and Harvie’s new research also calls into question new attempts from providers to accrue funding amidst their liquidity woes. Discussing new covenants between banks and universities, Harvie criticised the “highly secretive” nature of these agreements, suggesting such financial decisions should be open to complete public consideration and scrutiny.

As time passes, the scale of monetary hardship facing British higher education institutions appears to worsen, and universities are clearly unafraid of dishing out pink slips as part of their response.