University to shut campus and cut 400 jobs

A university has announced it is closing one of its campuses and is in the process of axing 400 full-time jobs.

The University of Essex said its Southend-on-Sea campus would shut from summer 2026.

The institution, which is primarily based in Colchester, said the "incredibly difficult decision" would help it respond to "significant financial challenges facing the whole of the UK higher education sector".

The Southend campus is home to students studying courses on the award-winning East 15 drama school.

Vice-chancellor Prof Frances Bowen said the university was putting "additional support" in place to help students and staff.

"This is not a decision we have taken lightly but after reviewing all reasonable alternatives, we find ourselves having to make decisions we could have never previously imagined," she said.

A spokesperson said the number of academic posts was reducing by about 200 this academic year, and about 200 professional service roles would also be cut over the next two years.

According to its website, the university employs more than 2,644 academic, research, senior support and general support staff.

International student numbers at the campus had fallen by 52% since 2021-22, the university said.

The institution says all courses - including 800 students - will transfer from Southend to Colchester so they can continue their studies.

The decision also enabled the university to focus on its Loughton campus, the spokesperson added.

In response, UNISON Eastern regional officer Caroline Hennessy said: "The university can't recover from cuts on this scale.

"Making a fifth of staff redundant, so soon after voluntary job losses, will seriously damage workers' ability to deliver a first-class education to students.

"It means misery for those losing their roles, as well as the staff left to pick up the pieces."

Pam Cox, Labour MP for Colchester, said she was "deeply saddened" by the news, but was aware the decision would "not have been taken lightly".

"The University of Essex is not alone in confronting these challenges, but that does not make this news any less painful for those affected," she said.

"My thoughts are with staff and their families at this very difficult time.

"The University of Essex has been a cornerstone of opportunity and innovation for decades, and I am committed to working with local partners and government to enable it to thrive."

The Southend campus first opened to students in 2008 and came with lecture rooms, rehearsal space and high-tech medical skills labs.

It is home to students of East 15. The drama school is based in Loughton and Southend, and its alumni include Gavin and Stacey actress Alison Steadman, Motherland's Diane Morgan and Patricia Allison of Sex Education.

Imogen Morris, who is studying world performance at East 15, said: "We found out via email at about 12:00 and there was no real communication.

"There was an email and it just said the campus is being shut down."

Preslav Hristov, 21, is a third year student and said the news was surprising, but there were mixed feelings among undergraduates.

He said he was sad having made a lot of friends during his studies, but added: "Actually, some of them are excited that they're going to the bigger campus in Colchester."

Ojoma Idegwu, a PhD student in entrepreneurship who also teaches, said while she was not heavily impacted, she still had concerns.

"My colleagues who are international students, especially those who have adapted to Southend, they have jobs here, they've settled down," she said.

"Commuting to Colchester, I'm just thinking of the cost of that because as we know it's quite expensive, especially for international students."

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