Former Labour leader and peer Lord Neil Kinnock has joined a host of prominent individuals and former students in condemning the severe cuts and employment reductions proposed at Cardiff University. In a strongly articulated letter addressed to the university's Vice-Chancellor, Lord Kinnock, who also previously served as the President of Cardiff University, cautioned that such measures would "diminish" the institution's stature.
Lord Kinnock's intervention comes at a time when members of the Cardiff UCU are considering striking in response to what they see as draconian savings plans and the risk of 400 job losses, potentially disrupting key activities, such as exam marking. As an alumnus of the university's languages department, his letter sharply criticises the decision to shutter this faculty.
Furthermore, he has communicated to the UCU that he will voice his opposition to the university regarding all proposed departmental closures and redundancies.
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Cardiff University shocked many when it disclosed in January its intention to slash 400 academic positions and close several departments including nursing, music, ancient history, modern languages, religion, and theology. Renowned mathematicians, musicians, scientists, and others have also publicly denounced these planned reductions, citing the detrimental impact they could have on Wales' prestigious Russell Group institution as well as broader economic, educational, and reputational consequences for the nation.
University leaders have warned of a £31m deficit due to increasing costs, a decline in high-paying international students, National Insurance payments, and stagnant domestic tuition fees despite two recent hikes. The financial strain is a sector-wide issue, with Bangor University and the University of South Wales announcing a combined 290 job losses.
Cardiff University academics are now pinning their hopes on members of the House of Lords to take up their cause against job cuts at a reception for alumni tonight (March 13). The event, hosted by Lord Griffiths of Burry Port at the House of Lords, promises "wonderful views of the River Thames" but has been targeted by the Cardiff branch of the University and College Union (Cardiff UCU) who are lobbying against the cuts.
Members of the union felt "insulted" by the event's timing and have circulated a draft letter for at-risk staff to send to Welsh peers, with several offering support. The letter is signed by some of the 1,800 academic staff at Cardiff University who were informed on January 29 that their jobs were under threat.
Peer engagement is being encouraged to address the proposed cuts at the university, with members of the reception urged to question key university personnel, including the Vice Chancellor. A particular point of contention raised by the University and College Union (UCU) is the choice not to utilise an alleged £188 million in cash reserves, which the Vice Chancellor has previously deemed financially imprudent.
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A Cardiff UCU spokesperson expressed the collective sentiments within the university community: 'We are currently balloting members on strike action. The mood in the university is angry and people are committed to doing what is necessary to save their jobs.
The university executive board's actions have seriously damaged Cardiff University's reputation domestically and internationally. We have considerable staff, student, community, and political support and will mobilise it to pressure them to accept a less draconian and more measured restructuring plan to save jobs and avoid harming the institution irreparably.
'.Meanwhile, a university spokesperson conveyed the institution's position, stating: "We can confirm that we've received Lord Kinnock's letter and we will respond in due course. We would also be happy to meet with Lord Kinnock to discuss his concerns as part of the on-going consultation process. It is important to stress; these are proposals. They remain subject to a 90-day consultation. No final decisions have been made."