University to cut staff after student numbers fall

Teesside University wants 27 members of staff to take voluntary redundancy

A university is cutting teaching staff because of a drop in the number of international students signing up for its courses.

Teesside University wants 27 academic staff to take voluntary redundancy after student numbers fell in some degree courses due to new visa rules introduced at the start of the year.

Dr Terry Murphy, from the University and College Union (UCU), said Teesside should use the smaller classes to improve the quality of teaching rather than "maximising profits".

The university said it was reviewing how it operates to become more efficient and deliver "value for money".

The number of international students studying in the UK has fallen after rules were introduced on 1 January which prevent family members moving to the UK with them.

Dr Murphy said the university was looking to cut roles in its business and English language departments because of the lower intake of international students.

He said the union had been told if 27 voluntary redundancies could not be found the university had warned it could make compulsory redundancies in January.

'Provide more teaching'

Dr Murphy said Teesside University was in a sound financial position - having made a £40m profit last year and holding £260m in reserves - and should focus on improving teaching rather than cutting staff.

"If student numbers have reduced, especially overseas students, the thing to do is to use the staff to give the existing students more teaching, smaller classes and better quality," he said.

"In all of its existence Teesside has never had a compulsory redundancy package and we think now is not the time to start."

A spokesperson for Teesside University said despite its "robust financial position" it was working to "mitigate against the increasingly challenging financial context".

"We are reviewing our operating models and expenditure, identifying efficiencies and ensuring we continue to deliver value for money," the spokesperson said.

"This includes the option of voluntary redundancy in a small number of academic areas, where student numbers have declined."