Academics fear they are being “set up to fail” after several institutions finished the academic year by announcing fresh job cuts, casting doubt over who will return after the summer break, and what courses they will be teaching.
Numerous universities in recent weeks have announced further restructuring programmes, including at Exeter, Dundee, Hertfordshire, Lincoln, Sussex and Northumbria, just as the busy exam and graduation period comes to a close.
Unions have accused institutions of making announcements at a time they will struggle to take industrial action, with the approaching end of the financial year on 31 July also likely to be influencing decisions.
The uncertainty was making it difficult to plan for next year’s teaching and a crucial period in the 2029 Research Excellence Framework, some of those affected said.
At the University of Lincoln, 140 staff have been put at risk of redundancy, with the institution intending to eventually lose 34 staff and some decisions expected before the end of August.
