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Cardiff University cuts 400 jobs and axes courses

Cardiff University cuts 400 jobs and axes courses

Cardiff University announced on Tuesday (28th January) that it will reduce its academic headcount by approximately 400 members of staff and that several subjects and programmes will be discontinued.

The staff reduction represents 7% of the total workforce. The University has said that compulsory redundancies will be used only if absolutely necessary.

The subjects to be discontinued include Ancient History, Modern Languages and Translation, Music, Nursing, and Religion and Theology.

Student-to-staff ratios across the University will increase, while approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment will be revised. Additionally, bureaucratic processes will be simplified to improve efficiency.

Complementary disciplines will be brought together through proposed school mergers. These include the creation of the School of Natural Sciences, which will merge Chemistry, Earth Sciences, and Physics; the School of Data Science, Computing and Mathematics, combining Computer Science and Mathematics; the School of Human and Social Sciences, which will integrate Social Sciences, Geography, and Planning; and the School of Global Humanities, which will merge English, Communication and Philosophy, Welsh, and the remaining elements of History, Archaeology and Religion, and Modern Languages.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner said: “The precarious financial position of many universities, particularly in the context of declining international student applications and increasing cost pressures, and the need to adapt to survive are well documented.

“We know here at Cardiff University that it is no longer an option for us to continue as we are. Our new strategy, co-created with our community, lays out an ambitious future for our University where it is collaborative, innovative, and delivering value for Cardiff, Wales and the wider world.

“Securing that future, in the context of tightening finances, means we need to take difficult decisions to realise our ambitions to enhance our education and research, and improve the staff and student experience.

“We have worked diligently to create initial proposals for a slightly smaller University, refocused around our core and emerging strengths – a University ready to leverage new academic opportunities, prepare students for an adapting world and meet changing market demands as they arise.”

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