Edinburgh University cutting back on staff over financial pressures

Edinburgh University has become the latest higher education institution to announce it is cutting back on staff in the face of financial pressure.

The university said it is opening a voluntary redundancy scheme and compulsory redundancies may be necessary “if unavoidable”.

Principal Sir Peter Mathieson said the sector is dealing with challenges around international student recruitment – a key source of income – along with increasing staff costs and an underfunding of places for Scottish and UK students.

He said the university will be taking “a series of actions” to address these pressures, as well as the upcoming increase to employers’ national insurance contributions.

Earlier this month, Dundee University warned cuts to staffing levels are “inevitable” as a result of a projected deficit of up to £30 million.

Issuing a statement on Monday, Sir Peter said: “The university costs £120 million each month to run.

“In the context of the recent sector challenges around international student recruitment, increasing staff costs since the pandemic, and the unsustainable levels of funding for Scottish and other UK students, our outgoings are consistently higher than our income.

“In response to this situation and recent developments with regards to national insurance, we have concluded that we need to take a series of actions, which will include selective voluntary and, if unavoidable, compulsory redundancies.

“We will be offering staff the opportunity to find out more through a variety of online and in-person meetings, and we will continue to work with our unions and managers to help colleagues through these changes.

“I don’t underestimate how unsettling this news will be, however, it is important that I am honest about the scale of the challenge we have and transparent about the actions we need to take to address it.”

Mary Senior, Scotland official at the UCU trade union, said: “This will be a deeply worrying time for staff at the university of Edinburgh who will be worried about their jobs in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year.

“As well as staff, this news today will also be concerning to students at the university who’ll be concerned for the staff who teach them, but also for their future studies and their courses.

“Coming on the back of cuts announced in the summer, it’s imperative the university takes every step possible to retain jobs and to avoid compulsory redundancies. UCU will fight to defend every job.”