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Union calls for halt to loss of 150 jobs at University of Leicester

20 June 2016

UCU has urged managers at the University of Leicester to halt plans to cut around 150 jobs, and reverse its decision to close the university's lifelong learning centre.

The university has announced the job losses and centre closure as part of a restructure designed to reduce staff costs by 4.5%, citing a loss of income from overseas student fees as the main reason for the cuts. A voluntary severance scheme was initially offered to staff, but has now closed and the university has indicated that compulsory redundancies will still be required.

The university has also announced that it will close the Vaughan Centre for Lifelong Learning, which currently provides a range of adult learning and professional development courses. The closure will affect around 100 staff, and the union has warned that it will have a serious impact on the university's efforts to encourage local people to consider higher education.

UCU regional official, Sue Davis, said: 'The planned job losses are devastating for staff, and the union remains wholly opposed to any compulsory redundancies. Closing the Vaughan Centre will also be a massive blow to the local community, and will have a serious impact on the university's efforts to widen participation and encourage local people into higher education.'

'The best way to attract more students to the university is not to cut staff numbers and close courses. The university management urgently needs to halt its plans and sit down with UCU to look at alternatives to these damaging job losses.' 

Last updated: 20 June 2016

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