Lecturers say it will be a ‘miracle’ if this UK uni keeps its university status in five years

Academic staff at a Bournemouth University say it would be a “miracle” for the institution to keep its university status if management’s proposed job cuts go ahead.

Bournemouth University plans to cut the jobs of 116 lecturers and researchers – about a tenth of the academic staff – by 31st July. If this goes ahead, then 15 courses will permanently close, including undergraduate degrees in anthropology, English and politics. About 100 professional services staff could also lose their jobs.

The head of the Bournemouth branch of the University and College Union (UCU) said: “If the vice-chancellor and her team succeed in pushing through these attacks, it will not only ruin the livelihoods of more than 100 of our academic colleagues but render the university unrecognisable, irreparably harming students’ education, more akin to an old polytechnic than a university.”

Bournemouth University has also proposed cutting back academics’ research time.

Bournemouth University staff striking in 2023
(Credit: Bournemouth Uni UCU’s X)

A lecturer in law at Bournemouth University, Joe McMullen, told the Bournemouth Echo these cuts would change the uni’s status to being a university “in name only”. He feels the academics would become “just teachers”. He said: “I would be surprised if Bournemouth University is still a university in the next five years. I would count that as a miracle.”

Academic staff from Bournemouth University are striking during exam season on the 11th, 12th, 23rd and 24th of June. These strikes are likely to delay when the university awards some degrees.

Most Read

The best 20 unis in the UK right now, according to the new Complete University Guide

OnlyFans releases stern statement as it DEACTIVATES Bonnie Blue’s account for defiant reason

22-year-old who did vile stunt with Bonnie Blue says she’s ‘traumatised’ and needs therapy

A spokesperson for Bournemouth University said: “We are disappointed that this action is taking place at a time when we are concentrating on securing our university’s future in consultation with our staff, students, Students’ Union and trade unions.

“Our priority is to minimise the impact this could have on our students and we have contingency plans ready for exam boards if needed.”

For more news about UK universities, like The Tab on Facebook.