Cardiff University has announced plans to cut 400 academic staff, alongside ending a number of courses including Nursing and Modern Languages.
The plan, announced on 28 January, has emerged as the University faces deep financial pressures, with the Guardian reporting a £31.2m deficit last academic year.
Concern grows in the sector as institutions witness inflationary pressure, falling student numbers, and limited rises to tuition fees.
Vice-Chancellor Wendy Larner has described this situation as “untenable“, and believes the imminent cuts are necessary to secure a “viable future” for the University.
In response, the University and College Union (UCU), which represents 120,000 academics and university staff across the country, organised a rally outside of the Welsh Parliament on February 4.
Speaking at the rally, supporters of university staff have called on the government to step in with funding to prevent job losses and maintain key courses.
Higher Education Minister Vikki Howells has stated that no extra support will be forthcoming from the Welsh Government, but promised reforms to the university system to help out embattled institutions.
Uncertainties remain around the plan and its impacts. The University administration has stated that final plans will be announced in June as it undergoes a 90-day consultation, leaving large numbers of staff in limbo as to their future.
Furthermore, Cardiff UCU has stated its intention to ballot membership for strike action, which they hope will lead to changes in university policy and will likely have an impact on students at the institution.
