Up to 111 jobs could be lost at the University of Aberdeen as part of a £10 million savings plan, the institution has announced. The university court, its governing body, stated that the university faces a 'stark' challenge and 'decisive action' is required to safeguard its future.
The court has agreed to the savings plan to meet a target of breaking even by 2028. It emphasised a commitment to reducing staff numbers through voluntary means, with enhanced retirement and voluntary severance schemes set to open next week. However, compulsory redundancies remain a possibility, though they are considered a last resort.
Staff were informed via email from Gary McRae, interim senior governor, and Professor Peter Edwards, principal and vice-chancellor. The message indicated that future staffing budgets would be guided by indicative student-to-staff ratios. Based on current modelling, the total reduction in the academic workforce could reach up to 111 full-time equivalent positions. However, the focus of the court's decision was on cost reduction rather than a specific headcount.
The message noted that after two years of deficit, the university is currently forecasting a £4 million surplus for the financial year ending July 31. However, much of this surplus stems from one-off savings and income that cannot be relied upon in future years, masking an underlying structural deficit. The £10 million savings plan is deemed necessary to ensure financial stability, eliminate annual uncertainty, and generate surpluses for investment.
Professor Edwards commented: 'Scottish universities have never been more challenged. Decisive action is needed to protect the future of our university and allow us to return to a more stable footing to grow and succeed in a way that meets the needs of the communities we serve.'
Dan Cutts, co-chair of the Aberdeen branch of the University and College Union, described the news as 'absolutely devastating' for staff and vowed that the union would 'fight this as hard as possible.' Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, he said: 'There's other things that can be done, but it seems that yet again the easiest thing that they can do is just to cut staff, and they haven't considered the reputational impact it's going to have. We're a regional university, we serve our community. Staff have been working so hard to the point we have achieved surplus, but yet we are being punished yet again. It is just unacceptable.'
UCU members at the university had taken strike action earlier this spring over job cuts, and industrial action has also occurred at several other Scottish institutions facing proposed cuts.
