UCLan to reduce workforce with redundancies as it faces unprecedented financial challenges

UCLan sign with blue sky behind Pic: Blog Preston

The University of Central Lancashire will aim to reduce its workforce by around 5% as it faces unprecedented financial challenges.

The loss of 5% of the university’s 3,300 workforce will equate to around 165 people in real terms.

UCLan has attributed the financial challenges it faces to a decline in international student recruitment, UK tuition fees being frozen and inflation.

Professor Graham Baldwin, Vice-Chancellor at UCLan, said: “At a time when income is static and our expenditure is growing, we need to start reducing our costs as well as balancing developing areas of growth and investing in areas that attract students to study with us.

“Whilst it is important that we reduce our costs and our staff base over the coming months, it is also important to remember that we remain a strong performing university delivering quality teaching to thousands of students. We remain a large employer in the region but we must embrace change by thinking and delivering differently.”

The university has launched a voluntary redundancy scheme today (April 8) and is asking for expressions of interest from its academic and professional services employees.

In February, Universities UK, which represents universities and colleges, said the government’s new immigration restrictions on international students, coupled with large visa fee increases, were having an impact on the UK’s attractiveness as a study destination.

They said data from more than 60 universities in the UK showed the number of study visas issued had fallen by 33% this year compared with the same time last year.

Professor Baldwin added: “The Higher Education sector is facing unprecedented financial challenges and we need to proactively respond in order to be more agile and able to deal with the pace of change impacting the sector today and into the future.

“We know this is a concerning time for our staff and we have support systems in place during this difficult time. As ever our continued priority is our students and giving them a great university experience.”

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