Job cuts risk at university departments

Jobs are at risk at the University of Sheffield as management conducts a review of three departments.

Academic staff in chemistry, materials science and East Asian studies are currently in a consultation period over 22 job cuts.

The University and College Union said the university was looking to move to a compulsory redundancy selection process, if necessary, in September with staff leaving by 31 December.

The university said it needed to address staffing levels and insisted no schools or disciplines were closing, with courses continuing to be delivered "to the same high academic standards".

The review is looking at a reduction of six full-time equivalent (FTE) academic roles from a group of 26 in chemistry, which is part of the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

Materials science, part of the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, could see a reduction of seven FTE roles in a group of 21 academic staff members.

And East Asian studies, part of the School of Languages and Cultures, could have a reduction of nine FTE roles in a group of 31.

There are also nine roles in the Research, Partnerships and Innovation department which remain at risk of redundancy.

The union said there were ongoing reviews, with the potential to progress to restructure, in the School of English, Sociological Studies, School of Medicine and Population Health and School of History, Philosophy and Digital Humanities.

Allison Owens of the Sheffield UCU branch said: "These jobs are academic staff, people on either teaching or research contracts.

"Our independent financial analysis shows that the university does not need to make the cuts it is proposing. It does not need to pursue the scale and pace of change that it is proposing to.

"The university argues there's been a reduction in student numbers but that doesn't necessarily change the amount of work someone has to do.

"Whether you're teaching 20 students or 50, you've still got to prep and give the lecture, arrange office hours and organise seminars."

The university said like many others it was adapting to changing sector demands.

A spokesperson said: "Doing nothing is not an option if we want to shape our own future and protect the high-quality student experience Sheffield is known for.

"To ensure long-term sustainability, we are carefully reviewing structures in specific areas in line with current and future teaching, research and support needs.

"While we expect to reduce the number of full-time equivalent roles in these areas by around 22, we anticipate that the actual number of compulsory redundancies will be significantly lower.

"We know this is an unsettling time for colleagues; however our focus is on using voluntary measures to achieve these savings - as we have successfully done in other restructures - and compulsory redundancies remain an absolute last resort."

There has been an increase in applications in some areas of the university but these are not evenly spread, according to the university.

Chemistry has seen a 25% reduction in student enrolment over the last three years from an already low base.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North