Proposal to save 400 university jobs put forward

A lecturer whose job is at risk has said a fully-costed proposal has been put forward to the University of Essex in a bid to save 400 full-time roles.

In December, the university announced it was closing its Southend-on-Sea campus this summer, putting the jobs at risk.

At a demonstration outside The Forum in the city on Thursday, Jordan Osserman said the proposal had been submitted last week.

The university said it was "reducing staff numbers to more closely match a lower student population".

Osserman, who is the branch co-chair of the University and College Union, said a team of academics and other staff had "put hours" into working out how the university could make savings.

Changes to the career-break policy, enhancing the voluntary redundancy offer and allowing staff to move to fractional contracts were among the proposals.

They have also asked for the deadline for voluntary redundancy to be extended and for the offer of voluntary redundancy to be enhanced.

"Basically, through a different set of measures, the university can be on a financially sustainable footing without the mess it's getting us in right now," he said.

The 36-year-old, who teaches psychosocial and psychoanalytical studies, said he feared it would be difficult to find another job if he were to be made redundant.

"Because of the financial crisis in the sector, it's incredibly hard for us to find other jobs," he added.

"My colleagues are [also] looking because we are all at risk – if I lose my job, I don't know what I am going to do, but I believe we will win this fight."

In a statement, university vice-chancellor Prof Frances Bowen said: "Focusing our teaching, research and student services on fewer sites (Colchester and Loughton) will give our university a consolidated platform for the future.

"It will enable us to better respond to the significant financial challenges facing the whole UK higher education sector.

"To provide the best environment for our students to flourish, we must deliver our mission in a different way."

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Universities are independent from government and are responsible for managing their own finances, but this government is committed to fixing the foundations of higher education and restoring universities as engines of opportunity, aspiration and growth.

"We have taken action to put universities on a firmer financial footing, having raised tuition fees this academic year in line with inflation and refocused the Office for Students to monitor the financial health of the sector."

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