Uni cuts 'devastating for reputation', warns union

Proposed job cuts at Liverpool Hope University (LHU) will have a "devastating impact" on the academic institution's reputation, a union has warned.

Staff have been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy, said Roberto Catello from the University and College Union (UCU), with 39 lecturers facing losing their jobs.

He said the proposed cuts would have a "devastating impact on our academic community, the reputation of the university... and the local economy".

A university spokesperson, who confirmed the voluntary redundancy scheme, said leaders tasked with ensuring the institution's financial and academic stability were working with the UCU "to explore all options".

Dr Catello added: "The fact the LHU plans to drastically reduce the size of the Theology and Religious Studies academic team, from a headcount of six to two, is particularly telling.

"It shows that management is willing to sacrifice our institutional identity as a Christian and Ecumenical University just to make some savings from the academic staff budget."

Part of the national Cathedrals Group of Universities, LHU said it was seeking to "ensure financial and academic stability".

A university spokesperson said they appreciated it was a worrying time for staff and stressed that no staff member had been issued with a redundancy notice.

"The situation is still fluid," the representative added. "We await counter-proposals from the union and continue to consider suggestions and counter-proposals from individual staff.

"Our institution is not immune to the challenges facing the higher education sector across the UK and these proposals have been put forward to ensure financial and academic stability, while enabling us to continue to deliver excellent educational outcomes into the future."

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