University of Sheffield adds four schools to latest voluntary redundancy scheme

The University of Sheffield has added four of its schools to the list of those which will be eligible for its latest round of voluntary severance

Staff were notified in May that academic staff in the departments of chemistry, materials engineering, civil and structural engineering, East Asian studies, and those in the Management School could apply for the  voluntary redundancy scheme – which is opening this month.

Then, on 11th September, staff were told this would also extend to a further five areas:

• School of Medicine and Population Health
• School of History, Philosophy, and Digital Humanities
• School of English
• School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
• Research Partnerships and Innovation (RPI)

The Sheffield University and College Union (UCU) has called the cuts “unnecessary and unacceptable”, in particular as a result of the university’s £6m operational surplus in the 2023/24 year.

It said in a statement: “This university has the historical resources to take a more prudent approach to the drop and volatility in international student numbers, and we simply cannot continue with the ongoing pace of change, with its impact on workload, workplace stress, and morale.

“Unfortunately, it seems the Vice-Chancellor and University Executive Board are committed to a programme of short-termist austerity and cuts, with no clear longer term vision.”

The union branch is already balloting its members on strike action over the “risk of redundancy” posed by the new severance scheme, and the “continued risk of redundancy” to professional services staff due to ongoing restructures.

Among Sheffield UCU’s demands are for the University of Sheffield to further commit to measures for no compulsory redundancies, reduce planned cuts, and negotiate on terms such as workloads, job security, and other means of making financial savings.

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An offer which included a commitment to no compulsory redundancies within the calendar year led to a planned 10 days of strike action in May being called off.

A spokesperson for the university said it remains committed to no compulsory redundancies in 2025 and will “work to avoid them wherever possible in future”.

They added: “We are taking a considered and strategic approach to the current and future challenges facing UK universities, to protect the high-quality education and student experience Sheffield is known for.

“This includes continuing to review academic structures and staffing levels in some areas, to ensure their long-term sustainability and alignment with current and future teaching, research, and support needs. A voluntary severance scheme (VSS) is being extended to these areas to help avoid the risk of compulsory redundancies in the future.

“We will continue to focus on providing an excellent experience for our students while positioning the University to thrive in a competitive and dynamic higher education environment.”

Sheffield UCU further commented that trade unions had been reassured in May that restructures in the 2025/26 academic year would be within IT Services, SEAS Language Teachers, and the five academic departments initially stated as being under review.

The following announcement, it said, “contradicts that email and again reveals the incredibly short term planning of our University leadership”.

“The addition of these 5 work areas to the targeted VS scheme should be a message to all of us that these cuts are for the sake of cuts, and that no area in the university is safe.

“There is no level of reviews or job losses that is going to be ‘enough’ unless staff stand together and say no.”

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