Press Releases | Cardiff UCU

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Monday 9^th June 2025

Cardiff UCU Response to Cardiff University Statement About Its Cuts Proposals

On Monday 9^th June 2025 Cardiff University management released a statement about its ongoing cuts proposals. This statement has been communicated to staff and been released to the pres. [It is reproduced in full in the notes to editors below.]

A Cardiff UCU spokesperson commented:

“We have very serious concerns about the way that the University is rushing through these premature and ill-justified plans to restructure the University. It is welcome that under threat of industrial action and massive staff, student, and community opposition the University Executive Board has U-turned on some of its more damaging proposals. But our members remain deeply disappointed that, despite hundreds of meetings with staff, management are still not fully hearing our concerns and are ploughing ahead in the same old macho way.

“The rosy picture painted by management today ignores many serious problems. For instance: More than 400 staff currently remain in scope for redundancy; whole schools and programmes are still being needlessly axed (including Ancient History, Religion, German, Portuguese, and Italian); others remain a shadow of their former selves because of staff lost to voluntary redundancy; departments are being bundled together in hurried, untransparent, and risky ways; professional services support staffing is in chaos because of a separate, equally damaging restructuring exercise; there is an epidemic of poor staff mental health caused by the mismanagement of these cuts; they are jeopardising our futures by linking their change plans to risky and hastily-developed transnational education schemes like Cardiff University Kazakhstan (CUK); and all of this exposes the University, and the student experience, to a range of very grim risks.

“We fully agree that change is needed to keep the University financially viable, but we continue to make the case that this kind of short, high-risk timeline for change is avoidable and that we have the resources to restructure in a more measured and prudent fashion. Instead of passing these proposals on the nod, Council should do its job and recommend a more reasonable period of reform, reducing risks to the University’s reputation, academic sustainability, staff wellbeing, and student satisfaction.”

-ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

Cardiff UCU is the representative trade union voice for academic and academic-related staff at Cardiff University. Cardiff UCU members include academics, researchers, managers, librarians, IT staff, postgraduates who teach and other hourly paid teaching staff, whether on fixed-term or on permanent contracts; whether full-time or part-time.

What did Cardiff University Management’s Statement on 9^th June 2025 Say?

Dear colleagues

As set out in our message on Friday, we are now sharing the Our Academic Future business case we will take to Council. It sets out how we propose to achieve academic and financial sustainability while supporting the ambitions of our strategy, Our future, together. This means we would become a slightly smaller university, refocused around core academic strengths, ready to leverage new opportunities and respond to changing market demands.

The business case has been shaped by you, and will help ensure the university is fit for a future in which our community play a key role in delivering cultural and economic benefit for Cardiff, Wales and the world. 

You shared your thoughts and feedback in different ways, including:

the 54 alternative proposals submitted

during five UEB all-staff webinars, where 730 questions were asked and answered

33 meetings with staff in affected schools

520 emails received to newid-change

12 collective consultation meetings with trade unions and 29 College collective consultation meetings with trade unions

357 individual consultation meetings.

At the start of this process we were clear that the proposals could, and indeed should, change. The business case gives detail on how the original proposals have developed, and a short summary of the plans is provided below.

We do not underestimate the impact these plans and the consultation process has had and continues to have on colleagues. Wellbeing support is available to you, and as outlined in last week’s message we are continuing to seek opportunities to enhance this support offer, in partnership with trade unions.

Best wishes

Wendy Larner and the University Executive Board

Key points from Our Academic Future business case

Examples of the original proposals that have changed:

we plan to retain Music and Modern Languages at Cardiff, although at a reduced and rationalised scale in a new School of Global Humanities

following an alternative proposal we plan to retain Nursing at Cardiff, keeping all three of the degree programmes, but with smaller cohorts

a number of Schools were taken out of scope during the process, having met their academic staff reduction targets or as a result of alternative proposals

the initial target for reduction in academic staff FTE was 400. Acceptance of alternative proposals that involved retaining staff capacity to deliver Cardiff-based programmes and new enterprises such as our Transnational Education partnerships reduced the target to 220 FTE. 151 academic staff FTE have left the university voluntarily, meaning that we now need 69 academic staff FTE to deliver the 220 FTE target.

Examples of original proposals that we have retained include:

ceasing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Ancient History and Religion and Theology

the decision to merge certain Schools, reducing the number of our Schools from 24 to 16

the decision to increase student:staff ratios to achieve financial sustainability, recognising that this will mean changes in teaching practice to preserve and improve the student experience.

Financials – if approved, these plans will:

deliver a gross saving per annum of £20 million, and a net saving of £14.1 million

in combination with the wider Voluntary Severance scheme, deliver gross savings of £28.4 million and net savings of £22.5 million

these savings do not fully close the financial gap, and further work will be required, including diversifying our income streams and reducing professional services and estates costs.

-Ends-

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Andy Williams (English)
Email: williamsa28@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07798 603706

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Joe Healy (Welsh, English)
Email: healyjp@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07990 895232

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Thursday 27^th May 2025

Cardiff UCU Response to Cardiff University Statement About Its Cuts Proposals

On Tuesday 27^th May 2025 Cardiff University management released a statement about its cuts proposals. This statement has been communicated to staff and been released to the press. It is reproduced in full in the notes to editors below.

A Cardiff UCU spokesperson commented:

“It is good to see the University Executive Board, under pressure from our members’ massive public campaign to save jobs, has now agreed to reverse its initial plans to cut Nursing, Music, and Modern Languages provision entirely. However, it is unacceptable that management continue to keep more than 400 staff in scope for redundancy with no end in sight. The physical and mental health effects of this are becoming unbearable for many of our members.

“We will continue to press University leaders in the strongest terms to take all staff out of scope for redundancy and to work with us to find ways to continue teaching and research in ancient history, languages, religion, and theology. As we have argued from the start, no redundancies would be needed at all if the University was willing to reduce its overly ambitious and self-imposed financial targets and draw on its vast sums of accessible cash to fund a longer recovery period.

“We are currently working with management in the spirit of collaboration but, in case our concerns cannot be resolved by working together, we are also consulting members over future industrial action on the major issues, including the threat of future redundancies, created by this disastrous and unnecessary programme of cuts.”

-ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

What did Cardiff University Management’s Statement on 27^th May Say?

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to confirm that University Executive Board (UEB) has now approved an alternative proposal for the School of Global Humanities. That proposal will now be put to University Council on 17 June for its approval, as part of the ‘Our Academic Future’ process. 

The alternative proposal UEB approved was created through collaboration between the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the five Heads of Schools of the arts and humanities disciplines. It was informed by four alternative proposals developed by our staff who worked hard to put forward good ideas for the future of both music and modern languages provision at Cardiff.

I can confirm that, if Council approves our plans, we will continue to offer modern languages and music research and education at Cardiff, albeit with revised structures and with a smaller staff base, based within a new School of Global Humanities. This new school will:

continue to offer undergraduate and postgraduate Music degree programmes, but with revised entry targets and content

continue to offer Modern Languages programmes but to smaller cohorts, and primarily in French, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese.

seek to expand our Translation degree provision

continue to offer Languages for All with the languages offered there shaped by student demand

develop a new suite of degree programmes to fulfil the ambitions of the new School – challenge-oriented, inclusive, co-created and committed to advancing the Public Humanities agenda.

Having considered the case very carefully, we have decided not to revisit the proposal to cease named single and joint honours degrees in Ancient History, and Religion and Theology. I do understand that this will be very disappointing news for all academics who are deeply committed to these disciplines. We will of course continue to offer our current set of degree programmes for 2025-26 and are committed to teaching all students entering next September until the completion of their degree in these subjects.

I would like to thank all of you who have provided feedback on the arts and humanities, contributed to workshops and feedback sessions, and submitted alternative proposals. This input has been key to arriving at these proposals. I also want to acknowledge the anxiety that the Academic Future project has created for many of you, and I hope that today’s announcement brings some reassurance. There is much work yet to be done to realise the ambitions of this new School, and I hope you will feel able to play a part in this. 

Next Tuesday’s webinar (3 June) will provide more detail on the new School. For those unable to attend, a recording will be shared in Blas on 4 June. 

-Ends-

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Thursday 15^th May 2025

On Thursday 15^th May 2025 Cardiff University management released a detailed statement about its cuts proposals in relation to it’s “Academic Futures” restructuring plans. This statement has been communicated to staff and been released to the press. It is reproduced in full in the notes to editors below.

A Cardiff UCU spokesperson commented:

“We cautiously welcome parts of this statement from the University Executive Board, although there remain numerous areas of grave concern for our members about management’s continued programme of cuts.

“It is good to see that the University has further reduced the number of staff in scope for redundancy and removed some schools and departments’ ‘at risk’ status. We also welcome the reduction in numbers of staff the University is seeking to reduce overall, as well as the indications it has given that some disciplines initially earmarked for closure in its initial highly damaging proposals now have the potential to be saved. Our members will be relieved to hear that management now agrees with UCU’s long-standing argument that we should aim to restructure the University, and make savings, over a longer period.

“We will continue to press University leaders in the strongest terms to: take all staff out of scope for redundancy – it is simply not acceptable to keep our members in such uncertainty; continue provision of teaching and research in music, modern languages, ancient history, and religion and theology; draw on the University’s vast sums of accessible cash to fund a longer recovery period than it is currently planning on; and to rule out compulsory redundancies completely in relation to their current restructuring plans.

“We will also continue to campaign on the pressing issue of workload-related mental and physical ill-health given the numbers of staff who have been forced out voluntarily in the wake of its cuts announcements and the inevitable workload increases for those who remain. We continue to make the case that transnational education projects like Cardiff University Kazakhstan (CUK) should be approached slowly, with extreme caution, and only after extensive accounting for potential risks.

“We are currently working work with management in the spirit of partnership and collaboration but, in case our concerns cannot be resolved by working together, we are currently consulting members over potential future industrial action on the major issues created by this precipitous and poorly-planned process.”

-ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

What did Cardiff University Management’s Statement on 15^th May Say?

“Our Academic Future consultation update: Professor Wendy Larner explains how proposals have changed, and what it means for staff affected.

I’m writing to provide an update on the consultation for Our Academic Future, which closed on 6 May. I want to start by acknowledging that the last three months has been a really difficult time for many colleagues, and I do not underestimate the distress and worry that continues to be experienced by our community as we address our academic and financial sustainability.

Firstly I am able to confirm that colleagues in the School of Healthcare Sciences, the School of Medicine, the School of Biosciences, and the School of English, Communications and Philosophy are now out of scope of the consultation. This means that these staff are no longer at risk of redundancy.

It has been possible to remove these Schools from scope due to a combination of the number of staff in those Schools who have taken voluntary redundancy or have left the institution, and the acceptance of alternative proposals submitted by staff. Removing these Schools from scope means that the number of staff in the ‘at risk’ pool has now reduced to 650.

We have also made significant progress in reducing the academic FTE (full-time equivalent) target we had set. You will remember that we had initially proposed a target of 400 FTE. I am able to confirm we are now seeking to reduce FTE by 138. That reduction will take place over a number of years, and it is worth unpacking why this number has changed during the consultation:

We have accepted alternative proposals which will see Schools teaching higher numbers of students than in the original proposals – for example, Chemistry will retain the BSc Medicinal Chemistry degree, Mathematics will create a new programme, and we will continue to offer Nursing. We therefore need to retain more staff in those areas. The alternative proposal for Nursing, for example, meant lowering the target by 40 FTE.

We have acknowledged the need for staffing for the Kazakhstan campus, which reduced the target for the in-scope Schools by 34 FTE.

In some cases we have adjusted the FTE target for some Schools, notably the School of Global Humanities where the proposed FTE reduction has reduced by 15 FTE.

Finally we have taken into account the number of staff leaving the institution, either by voluntary redundancy or voluntary severance, or simply leaving – this is currently 133, and these have been removed from the total.

I know that this offers little comfort for those of you whose roles remain at risk. We have, of course, now committed to no compulsory redundancies in 2025, and reconfirmed that compulsory redundancies will only ever be an action of last resort in future years. We are continuing to review the Schools that remain in the ‘in scope’ pool with a view to removing as many staff as possible from this pool. We will continue to keep you updated.

I want specifically to reference the proposed School of Global Humanities, because I know that the news that the School of English, Communications and Philosophy (ENCAP) is coming out of scope might cause further anxiety for those in humanities disciplines who remain in scope. We have been able to remove ENCAP because of the number of staff who are leaving the School, and because we know that we plan to continue to teach the full range of ENCAP’s current courses in the future.

We have received several alternative proposals for the proposed new School of Global Humanities and its corresponding disciplines, and we are currently modelling those proposals. Some of those proposals include options for retaining elements of disciplines we had initially proposed to close. A workshop has been held to bring together academic staff from across the constituent Schools and trade union representatives, to inform the development of that School, including its proposed course portfolio and structure. We will share the proposed shape of the new School with colleagues as soon as we possibly can.

We have also received several alternative proposals regarding the proposed School mergers and the structures of these new Schools. Again, we are working through these proposals to ensure that we are taking the views expressed into account. I want to reaffirm that these mergers will not be in place until 2026-27, with preparatory work taking place during 2025-26, and that the alternative proposals will also inform and indeed perhaps shift the structure of those proposals.”

-ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

What did Cardiff University Management’s Statement on 15^th May Say?

“Our Academic Future consultation update: Professor Wendy Larner explains how proposals have changed, and what it means for staff affected.

We have accepted alternative proposals which will see Schools teaching higher numbers of students than in the original proposals – for example, Chemistry will retain the BSc Medicinal Chemistry degree, Mathematics will create a new programme, and we will continue to offer Nursing. We therefore need to retain more staff in those areas. The alternative proposal for Nursing, for example, meant lowering the target by 40 FTE.
We have acknowledged the need for staffing for the Kazakhstan campus, which reduced the target for the in-scope Schools by 34 FTE.
In some cases we have adjusted the FTE target for some Schools, notably the School of Global Humanities where the proposed FTE reduction has reduced by 15 FTE.
Finally we have taken into account the number of staff leaving the institution, either by voluntary redundancy or voluntary severance, or simply leaving – this is currently 133, and these have been removed from the total.

-ends-

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

Please scroll down for the English-language version.

I’w ryddhau ar unwaith: Dydd Gwener, 2 Mai, 2025

Datganiad ar y cyd rhwng Prifysgol Caerdydd, UCU, Unison ac Unite

Yn dilyn cyfarfod cyffredinol brys ddoe (dydd Iau 1 Mai) rydym yn falch o gadarnhau bod Undeb y Prifysgolion a’r Colegau (UCU) wedi cytuno i atal yr holl weithredu diwydiannol yn eu mandad presennol ar gyfer 2025. Mae hyn yn cynnwys y boicot marcio ac acesu. 

Mae Bwrdd Gweithredol y Brifysgol hefyd wedi cytuno i ddiystyru dileu swyddi pob aelod o staff sy’n gysylltiedig â Dyfodol Academaidd a’r rhaglen drawsnewid ehangach yn ystod blwyddyn galendr 2025. 

Cafwyd trafodaethau cadarnhaol ac adeiladol rhwng aelodau’r Bwrdd Gweithredol ac undebau llafur y campws yn gynharach yr wythnos hon. Rydym yn ddiolchgar i ACAS (y Gwasanaeth Cynghori, Cymodi a Chyflafareddu) am eu gwaith ymgysylltu. 

Mae cydweithwyr o UCU, Unison a Unite a Bwrdd Gweithredol y Brifysgol wedi cadarnhau ein bod oll yn awyddus i weithio gyda’n gilydd er budd y staff, y myfyrwyr a chymuned ehangach y Brifysgol. 

Bydd yr ymgynghoriad ar gynigion presennol Ein Dyfodol Academaidd yn dod i ben ar 6 Mai 2025. Mae’r Bwrdd Gweithredol wedi cytuno i ymestyn y cyfnod ymgynghori estynedig tan 30 Mehefin 2025 er mwyn cynnal trafodaethau a gwneud gwaith ymgysylltu pellach â’r Undebau Llafur. Bydd y rhain yn llywio’r cynigion terfynol ac yn cael eu cyflwyno ger bron y Cyngor ar 17 Mehefin.

Mae cydweithwyr yn yr undebau llafur wedi pwysleisio bod angen cynnig mwy o eglurder i aelodau o staff sy’n parhau i fod yn y grŵp a effeithir arno. Mae cwestiynau dilys wedi codi ynglŷn â chanlyniad y broses ymgynghori, a phryd y bydd y staff yn cael gwybod am y canlyniadau hynny. 

Cyhoeddir amserlen dros dro cyn bo hir a fydd yn dangos beth fydd yn digwydd rhwng nawr a chyfarfod y Cyngor ar 17 Mehefin. Ar ôl y cyfarfod hwnnw o’r Cyngor, bydd modd inni roi diweddariad pendant ar y cynlluniau a’r effaith y byddant yn eu cael ar staff sydd yn y grŵp a effeithir gan y cynigion.

Mae’r Bwrdd Gweithredol yn cydnabod yr effaith ddynol hynod real y mae’r prosiect Dyfodol Academaidd wedi’i chael, a’r effaith ar staff academaidd ac yn y Gwasanaethau Proffesiynol, a myfyrwyr. Rydym wedi addo gweithio ar y cyd i asesu’r camau y gellir eu cymryd i sicrhau ein bod yn adeiladu ymddiriedaeth ac yn gofalu am iechyd a lles ein staff a myfyrwyr. Mae hyn yn golygu cynnwys yr undebau wrth lywio prosesau gwneud penderfyniadau yn y dyfodol, gan fynd tu hwnt i gynnal ymgynghoriadau ffurfiol sy’n ofynnol yn gyfreithiol. 

Hoffai’r Bwrdd Gweithredol ddiolch i UCU, Unison a Unite am ymgysylltu’n adeiladol â ni ac am y gefnogaeth maent wedi’i dangos i aelodau o staff drwy gydol yr ymgynghoriad ar Ein Dyfodol Academaidd. 

Byddwn yn parhau i gynnig y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i bob aelod o’r staff a myfyrwyr.

Bwrdd Gweithredol y Brifysgol, University and College Union, Unison a Unite.

-Diwedd-

For Immediate Release: Friday 2^nd May, 2025

Joint statement between Cardiff University, UCU, Unison and Unite 

Following yesterday’s emergency general meeting (Thursday 1 May) we are pleased to confirm that the University and College Union (UCU) has agreed to suspend all industrial action under their current mandate for 2025. This includes a marking and assessment boycott. 

University Executive Board (UEB) has in turn agreed to rule out compulsory redundancies for all staff connected to Academic Future and the wider transformation programme before the end of the 2025 calendar year.  

Positive and constructive talks took place between members of UEB and the campus trade unions earlier this week. We are grateful to ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) for their engagement.  

Colleagues from UCU, Unison and Unite and the University Executive Board confirmed our collective desire to work in partnership for the benefit of staff, students and our wider University community.  

The consultation on the current Academic Futures proposals ends on 6 May 2025. UEB has agreed to an extended consultation period until 30 June 2025 to allow for further Trade Union discussion and engagement to inform the final proposals that are presented to Council on 17 June and related decisions directly following this. 

Trade union colleagues have emphasised the need for further clarity for those staff who remain in-scope. Valid questions have been raised about the outcome of the consultation process, and when staff will be informed of those outcomes.  

An interim timetable, showing what happens between now and the Council meeting on 17 June, will be published shortly. That Council meeting is the point at which we can give a definitive update on plans and their impact on staff and their at-risk status. 

UEB recognises the very real human impact that the Academic Future project has had, and the impact on our academic and professional services staff, and students. We have agreed to work in partnership to assess the steps that we can take to ensure that we build trust and look after the health and wellbeing of our staff and students. This includes involving the unions in informing decision-making processes moving forward and beyond the legally required formal consultations.  

UEB also wishes to thank UCU, Unison and Unite for their constructive engagement and for the support they have given staff throughout the Academic Futures consultation.  

We will continue to keep all staff and students updated. 

University Executive Board, University and College Union (UCU), Unison and Unite.

-ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Thursday 1^st May, 2025

CARDIFF UCU VOTES TO CANCEL STRIKE ACTION AND MARKING BOYCOTT IN RETURN FOR GUARANTEE OF NO COMPULSORY REDUNDANCIES IN 2025; MEMBERS ALSO VOTE TO RENEW INDUSTRIAL ACTION MANDATE FROM SEPTEMBER 2025

At a packed Members’ Meeting today (May 1^st) Cardiff UCU members held two votes, both of which were passed overwhelmingly.

In the first, members voted in favour of accepting University management’s offer of no compulsory redundancies in 2025 in return for calling off the planned strikes and marking and assessment boycott, and agreeing to not instigate further industrial action under their current mandate.

In the second, which was reflective of widespread mistrust in management and the challenges still faced by staff at University, members also voted to renew their current industrial action mandate (which expires in September 2025) so that they can continue to put pressure on management around other issues of concern in the future.

Under the deal, Cardiff UCU members have won:

A guarantee of no compulsory redundancies in 2025 for all staff under the Academic Futures or wider transformation programme, including academics and professional services staff;

A guarantee that no staff will be served notice of compulsory redundancy in 2025; and

A commitment from the University to re-set relations with staff and work in a more collaborative way with campus Unions as it continues to consult on and enact widespread changes.

Although UCU spokesperson described this as a “big victory”, the union warned that a number of key problems persisted:

Over 1000 jobs still remain at risk at Cardiff University because management did not agree to take members out of scope for redundancy, despite promising no compulsory redundancies would happen this year. The union committed to continue to fight for jobs beyond 2025 and argue for staff to be taken out of at-risk status as soon as possible;

While the University partially reversed plans to end nursing provision, numerous Schools are still slated for closure, so the branch has committed to continue to make the case for preserving these disciplines at the University;

The last three months has had a large impact on staff mental and physical health. The union has done research with members that shows the extent of this and is keen to work with University management to address these issues going forward.

The University is currently reviewing the structure of its professional services and student support provision which could impact seriously on academic and professional services UCU members.

The branch will continue to make the case for scaling back current proposals for the University to generate large annual cash surpluses, and for drawing on available cash to fund a longer, less destructive, financial recovery.

A Cardiff UCU Spokesperson commented: “University management have been forced to the negotiating table this week by the huge staff, student, public, and political opposition to their massive cuts proposals. To avoid summer strikes and a marking and assessment boycott they offered a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies in relation to their restructuring plans for all staff in the 2025 calendar year. In doing so they fully met our key demand under the current mandate for action, and we welcome that.

“But our members are still deeply unhappy with the restructuring process, and the way it is being delivered. For that reason, we’ve also decided to seek to renew our industrial action mandate when the current one expires. Trust and confidence in the University Executive Board has been destroyed, and this will take time to rebuild. We truly welcome the new partnership-led approach the University has committed to, and we look forward to working much more closely together than we’ve been able to so far. We will be releasing a joint statement regarding the agreement in due course.

“Our members have won a big victory today, but the problems faced by staff at Cardiff University are far from over. The struggle continues.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

Cardiff UCU has analysed the documents shared with us about Cardiff University’s finances and consulting with Andrew McGettigan (HE Financial Expert) on its financial position and strategy. Cardiff UCU’s analysis of the data presented to it by the university’s Chief Financial Officer and recent annual reports show that:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released) plans to generate this much money do not make sense.

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has in excess of £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

The huge public consensus against the cuts:

Since the cuts were announced, the Cardiff University leaders have come under sustained pressure to reverse them:

Cardiff UCU has tabled an alternative proposal for a longer, more gradual recovery drawing on available funds without cutting jobs which has cross-party political support in Wales;

The Welsh Government has made £19m additional funding available to Welsh universities and said they should work in social partnership with UCU to avoid compulsory redundancies;

Management have come under repeated fire for establishing a new campus in Kazakhstan while cutting the University at home; and

Cardiff Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner has been criticised for delaying an appearance to be scrutinised by the Senedd’s Education Committee.

At-risk staff, many unable to speak out against the cuts because of a widely reported “climate of fear” fostered by senior managers, have built a vibrant coalition in defence of their jobs. So far supporters include opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, folk legend Dafydd Iwan, 500 pop stars (including Ed Sheeran, Sir Elton John, Harry Styles, and Stormzy), numerous scholarly organisations, Nobel-prize winning academics, artists and musicians including Sir Simon Rattle, MP’s and MS’s across parties, public figures such as Former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock, the Royal College of Nursing, Church groups, as well as the presidents of the European and London Mathematical Societies.

What are the risks of delivering teaching programmes in Kazakhstan according to the University’s own risk assessments documents for higher education partnerships?

On 17^th March the University announced that its governing body University Council had approved a proposal for Cardiff University to establish a branch in Astana, Kazakhstan. Even before this decision (in December 2024) it has been directing staff to design programmes of study ready to be taught under unclear conditions, in an unfamiliar environment, to begin delivery as soon as September 2025. The University’s partner in Kazakhstan, a new NGO with no history of delivering such projects called Qualified Centre for Education – Public Foundation posted a video of the (as yet undeveloped) land where the Cardiff University campus will be sited in December 2024.

The University has pledged that it will rigorously risk-assess the partnership, and all international Foundation Programmes must be quality-controlled by the regulator Medr. This is encouraging.

The University stated “we are not investing any capital in this venture, we are not paying for a campus”. Other costs are, however, inevitable. The staff time to develop and deliver new courses represents a significant outlay, as will the running costs of a new campus (which according to the Government of Kazakhstan will accommodate “more than 2,500 students” annually), the legal and consultancy fees associated with setting up a new institution, running costs, and the administrative, teaching, and other staff needed to run it. In an interview on Kazakh television in December Lord Mike German (who set up the deal) stated that Cardiff University is keen to develop “research capability” in Kazakhstan. In addition to teaching, this is another area of potentially spiralling costs. The University’s own risk-assessment policies admit that setting up a new campus abroad involves “significant investment in staff [and] facilities to replicate what happens at Cardiff”.

So far, the University has publicly downplayed the risks its Kazakhstan project involves, but now it has been given the green light by University Council, it will need to provide detailed reassurances to staff, students, policy-makers, and others. Its own policies and guidance documents (pages 14-16) label “International Branch Campuses” as operating at the highest level of risk in a number of ways. For instance, setting up a “mini University” in another location, among other risks: requires “significant investment in staff, facilities to replicate what happens at Cardiff”; risks employing staff with “significantly lower” qualification levels than at home; would be difficult because “Cardiff does not have extensive experience” in such arrangements; involves legal, administrative, and other costs; can lead to a “lower academic standards” if not monitored effectively.

All of these risks require significant, and time-intensive, planning. In order to win staff support, and allay doubts over potential reputational damage, the University will need to be honest and transparent in its communication of the work it has done to avoid such risks.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Monday 28^th April, 2025

CARDIFF UCU SUSPEND FIRST DAY OF STRIKE ACTION AHEAD OF ACAS-CHAIRED TALKS; TRADE UNION SEES “GLIMMER OF HOPE” BUT IS “NOT CELEBRATING YET”

Cardiff UCU representatives will sit down with Cardiff University bosses in a meeting chaired by the Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (ACAS) on April 30^th. As a gesture of goodwill, and to allow time for members to consider any possible outcomes from these talks, the union has suspended the first day of its planned strike action on May 1st.

All other planned industrial is still set to go ahead. This includes an indefinite marking and assessment boycott (MAB) and action short of strike (ASOS) beginning on May 6^th. May 6^th will also be a strike day, followed by six further all-out strike days in June.

The key demand of this industrial action remains to make Cardiff University bosses reconsider what union leaders have called their “cruel and unnecessary” cuts and specifically to rule out compulsory redundancies for the 2025 calendar year.

Employers have been forced to offer talks due to the strength of the mandate and proposed industrial action. In a statutory ballot 83% of Cardiff UCU members’ votes backed strike action, and 86% backed action short of a strike up to and including an assessment boycott (64% of members voted, giving the Union a mandate which far exceeds the anti-union 50% threshold for industrial action). This is the biggest mandate in the branch’s history.

Cardiff University management has been faced with fierce public scrutiny and condemnation of both their proposed cuts and how they have been undertaken. Academic staff, such as the former Education Minister Professor Leighton Andrews, have spoken out about the confusing and messy way the process has been handled so far, and petitions to save departments earmarked for closure have garnered thousands of signatures – from celebrities such as Ed Sheeran to globally renowned scholars.

Moreover, the Chair of the Children Young People and Education Committee in the Senedd has summoned senior university leaders to account for their decisions following a multi-million-pound bailout provided by them earlier this year. Senior leaders have sought to avoid Senedd scrutiny, however, and have delayed appearing before the committee.

Cardiff UCU submitted a counterproposal to management in March that outlined an alternative vision of the University, promoting academic excellence and financial sustainability. At its core is a plan to draw on existing cash to fund a longer recovery which avoids job cuts, negative impacts on students, and further reputational damage.

A marking and assessment boycott, which is deemed a form of “action short of a strike,” involves university workers carrying out most professional duties but refusing to do tasks that relate to marking and assessing student work (such as setting exams, marking, and administering assessment for exam boards so that students can progress to the next stage of their studies or, in the case of final year students, graduate at all).

The last time UCU members at Cardiff used this disruptive form of industrial action was in 2023, as part of a UK-wide campaign about pay and conditions. Senior managers at the University privately acknowledged that the severe disruption caused by this assessment boycott was comparable to that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In retaliation, University bosses docked 50-100% pay of staff participating in the boycott, despite staff still performing all other parts of their jobs. Some students were invited by the University to graduate without knowing their degree classifications, or even if they’d passed. For many of those who did get their grades, the University lowered academic assessment standards so much that they were accused of letting students graduate with “bargain basement degrees.”

The union indicated that even at this early stage of planning, at least 160% more members with marking duties have agreed to take part in an assessment boycott this time around. Hundreds more are already pledging to donate a percentage of their wages to a local solidarity fund to support those hit by any punitive wage deductions and even more have promised not to cover work for those engaging in the boycott. The UCU nationally has also confirmed that Cardiff members will be able to access its national strike fund for financial support. The two other campus unions, Unite and UNISON, have also agreed to instruct their members (mainly professional services support staff) to not cover work for UCU members engaging in industrial action.

Cardiff University UCU branch president Dr Joey Whitfield said: “After three months of uncertainty and fear at Cardiff University, levels of trust in leadership are very low amongst our members. This meeting represents a glimmer of hope that managers are seeing that their programme of rapid and destructive cuts is not necessary. But the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. We are not celebrating anything yet.”

“Our independent analysis of the University’s finances shows that making staff redundant as part of such a rapid restructuring exercise is not needed. We can turn the University’s finances around over a longer period and avoid this kind of pain. In the context of the havoc created by the plans to close courses our demand remains modest: A guarantee of no compulsory redundancies this calendar year. If this is not met, then our members may have no choice but to follow through with industrial action.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

The full details of Cardiff UCU’s planned industrial action this summer:

So far Cardiff UCU has announced the following industrial action this summer:

A Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) to begin on May 6^th. The exact form this will take is not yet decided by members in the branch. Union members have the power to withhold all labour relating marking and assessment, and its administration, for all Cardiff University students at all levels (including undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and PhD). They also have the ability to tailor the action to areas where it will be most impactful (for instance, only in relation to third year undergraduates, whose summer graduations could be disrupted without getting their grades);

“All-out” strike days on: May 6^th (the final day of the University’s consultation process over redundancies and its restructuring proposals); June 9^th (the day of a health and safety audit at the University, with protests planned around the effects of the restructuring and workloads on staff mental and physical health); evening and weekend work for recruitment (including during Open Days); and June 23^rd-27^th (a week in which many University exam boards are held); and

Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) from 6^th May to include: “working to contract” and not working unpaid extra hours (many staff routinely work evenings and weekends at Cardiff University); refusing to mitigate the marking and assessment boycott in any way; and refusal to engage in any goodwill duties. It could also include refusing more research or administrative duties.

In addition to these forms of agreed action, and depending on management response to UCU’s demands, it is possible that staff could escalate strike action to include other dates which would strategically disrupt other University business including student graduation ceremonies.

Did the University actually make significant concessions to its original proposals in its announcement on 10^th April?

In some ways, there was welcome news in Cardiff University’s most recent announcement, but in others there has been no significant change in its approach. For example:

The vast majority of those who were left in scope for redundancy on 20^th March (1,400) remain so today (the figure now stands at 1,307). The only staff removed were those in the Schools of Chemistry and Mathematics;

Staff reductions in Mathematics have been impacted by the fact that the controversial Cardiff University Kazakhstan (CUK) agreement “requires input from Mathematics colleagues”;

In the face of massive staff, student, political, and social opposition to its own proposal to axe nursing degrees, the University Executive Board has now acknowledged the existence of proposals from staff in the School of Healthcare Sciences which could see provision continued in some form but with significantly reduced staff and for fewer students. This will be dependent on securing approval from the Welsh Government, the NHS, and Health Education and Improvement Wales. No firm commitments were made, despite headlines which claimed, misleadingly, that the nursing school had been “saved”. All nursing staff still remain in scope for redundancy and many will be lost to voluntary redundancy; and

81 staff have applied, and been approved, for voluntary redundancy, and numerous others have taken voluntary severance. This means that management are now “proposing to reduce academic FTE numbers by 286”, rather than by 400. It has been widely reported that the University has “revised its job cuts figure from 400 to 286” – this is misleading, because the University has still effectively lost the same number of staff.

The cuts at Cardiff University explained: April update

Cardiff University senior management announced cuts to staff and student provision unprecedented in UK higher education. Cardiff UCU, the recognised representative trade union for academic and academic-related staff at the University, has condemned the plans as cruel and unnecessary. If senior management’s plan goes ahead, 1 in 10 members of academic staff will lose their job at Wales’s largest and only Russell Group university.

From 11am on January 28^th staff were invited to a series of briefings in which the alarming scale and depth of the proposed restructure was outlined to them. Many were left shell-shocked and in tears, fearing for their jobs, their students, and the future of what seems likely to be a radically altered University. The announcements were wide-ranging, but included plans to: cut whole departments or programmes (Nursing, Modern Languages, Religion and Theology, Music, and Ancient History were all named); axe 400 academic staff, 7 per cent of the workforce (with the promise of further, likely bigger, cuts to professional services administrative staff later in the year); and merge many existing schools (including the formation of a new department incorporating English, linguistics, archaeology, philosophy, history, and Welsh).

In the face of massive staff, student, political, and social opposition to its own proposal to axe nursing provision, the University Executive Board is now “considering” proposals from staff in the School of Healthcare Sciences which could see teaching continued in some form but with significantly reduced staff and for fewer students. This will also be dependent on securing approval from the Welsh Government, the NHS, and Health Education and Improvement Wales.

1,800 staff were initially placed “in scope” for redundancy, and by mid-March this number had been reduced to around 1,400. The number now stands at 1,307. The University is currently reviewing its “professional services” provision, and it is expected to announce yet further heavy job cuts among administrative and support staff later in 2025. Due to staff taking up the offer of voluntary redundancy, the University has now reduced the number of staff it wants to reduce from 400 to 286.

Senior managers insist that these kind of disruptive cuts are needed to balance the books, but Cardiff UCU’s independent expert financial analysis suggests otherwise.

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released) plans to generate this much money do not make sense.

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has in excess of £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

The growing public consensus against the cuts:

Since the cuts were announced, the Cardiff University leaders have come under sustained pressure to reverse them:

Cardiff UCU has tabled an alternative proposal for a longer, more gradual recovery drawing on available funds without cutting jobs which has cross-party political support in Wales;

The Welsh Government has made £19m additional funding available to Welsh universities and said they should work in social partnership with UCU to avoid compulsory redundancies;

Management have come under repeated fire for establishing a new campus in Kazakhstan while cutting the University at home; and

Cardiff Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner has been criticised for delaying an appearance to be scrutinised by the Senedd’s Education Committee.

What are the risks of delivering teaching programmes in Kazakhstan according to the University’s own risk assessments documents for higher education partnerships?

The University has pledged that it will rigorously risk-assess the partnership, and all international Foundation Programmes must be quality-controlled by the regulator Medr. This is encouraging.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Friday 11^th April, 2025

CARDIFF UCU RELUCTANTLY ANNOUNCE HARD-HITTING ASSESSMENT BOYCOTT AND SUMMER OF STRIKES IN DEFENCE OF JOBS

Cardiff UCU has announced action short of a strike (ASOS) including a marking and assessment boycott (MAB) and a series of all-out strike days to force Cardiff University bosses to reconsider their “cruel and unnecessary” job cuts and rule out compulsory redundancies.

In a statutory ballot 83% of Cardiff UCU members’ votes backed strike action, and 86% backed action short of a strike up to and including an assessment boycott (64% of members voted, giving the Union a mandate which far exceeds the anti-union 50% threshold for industrial action). This is the biggest mandate in the branch’s history, and it is hoped that the University’s Executive Board will meet staff demands before any action begins.

Since winning this mandate, union members have considered their options and voted for a hard-hitting plan of action beginning with a one-day strike on May 1^st (international worker’s day). If staff demands are not met by this point this will be followed by an indefinite assessment boycott beginning on May 6^th, and including seven further strike days in May and June [see notes for editor for details].

Cardiff University is currently inviting students graduating this summer (‘graduands’) to graduation ceremonies which may be disrupted by the boycott of assessment work. Senior managers have been warned that unless they agree to staff demands “a summer of chaos” will ensue that will add to the damage their controversial cuts plans have already caused.

A spokesperson said “As always, union members are reluctant to engage in industrial action because of the impact it has on students. They are even more averse to using the nuclear option’ of an assessment boycott. But the scale and depth of the cuts, along with management’s continued refusal to take compulsory redundancies off the table, means that staff feel the University is leaving them no choice but to act.”

An assessment boycott, which is deemed a form of “action short of a strike,” involves carrying out most of ones’ professional duties but refusing to do all, or some, tasks that relate to marking and assessing student work (such as setting exams, marking, and administering assessment for exam boards so that students can progress to the next stage of their studies or, in the case of final year students, graduate at all).

In retaliation for participation University bosses docked 50-100% of staff pay, despite staff still performing all other parts of their jobs. Some students were invited by the University to graduate without knowing their degree classifications, or even if they’d passed. Even for many of those who did get their grades, the University lowered academic assessment standards so much that they were accused of letting students graduate with “bargain basement degrees.”

The union indicated that even at this early stage of planning 160% more members with marking duties have agreed to take part in an assessment boycott this time around. Hundreds are already pledging to donate a percentage of their wages to a local solidarity fund to support those hit by any punitive wage deductions and even more have agreed not to cover work for those engaging in the boycott. The UCU nationally has also confirmed that Cardiff members will be able to access its national strike fund for financial support. The two other campus unions, Unite and UNISON, have also agreed to instruct their members (mainly professional services support staff) to not cover work for UCU members engaging in industrial action.

Cardiff University UCU branch president Dr Joey Whitfield said: “As University staff our members routinely go above and beyond to give our students the kind of excellent education they deserve. We are incredibly reluctant to take part in any form of industrial action, let alone a marking and assessment boycott. But the University is leaving us no choice after imposing these cruel and unnecessary cuts. Our message to the University Executive Board is clear: there is an alternative to this summer of chaos and there is still plenty of time to avoid this kind of disruption.”

“Our demand is quite modest and reasonable, and we want to negotiate. We could be asking for a lot more, but we aren’t. As our independent financial analysis has shown from the start, compulsory redundancies are not needed [see Notes for Editors]. As we’ve shown with our detailed and evidence-based set of alternative proposals for improving the University’s finances, there are ways out of this mess which protect the University and do not involve destroying hundreds of our members lives.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

The full details of Cardiff UCU’s planned industrial action this summer:

So far Cardiff UCU has announced the following industrial action this summer:

A Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) to begin on May 6^th. The exact form this will take is not yet decided by members in the branch. Union members have the power to withhold all labour relating marking and assessment, and its administration, for all Cardiff University students at all levels (including undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and PhD). They also have the ability to tailor the action to areas where it will be most impactful (for instance, only in relation to third year undergraduates, whose summer graduations could be disrupted without getting their grades);

“All-out” strike days on: May 1^st (International Workers’ Day); May 6^th (the final day of the University’s consultation process over redundancies and its restructuring proposals); June 9^th (the day of a health and safety audit at the University, with protests planned around the effects of the restructuring and workloads on staff mental and physical health); evening and weekend work for recruitment (including during Open Days); and June 23^rd-27^th (a week in which many University exam boards are held); and

Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) from 6^th May to include: “working to contract” and not working unpaid extra hours (many staff routinely work evenings and weekends at Cardiff University); refusing to mitigate the marking and assessment boycott in any way; and refusal to engage in any goodwill duties. It could also include refusing more research or administrative duties.

Did the University actually make significant concessions to its original proposals on 10^th April?

In some ways, there was welcome news in Cardiff University’s most recent announcement, but in others there has been no significant change in its approach. For example:

The vast majority of those who were left in scope for redundancy on 20^th March (1,400) remain so today (the figure now stands at 1,307). The only staff removed were those in the Schools of Chemistry and Mathematics;

Staff reductions in Mathematics have been impacted by the fact that the controversial Cardiff University Kazakhstan (CUK) agreement “requires input from Mathematics colleagues”;

In the face of massive staff, student, political, and social opposition to its own proposal to axe nursing degrees, the University Executive Board has now acknowledged the existence of proposals from staff in the School of Healthcare Sciences which could see provision continued in some form but with significantly reduced staff and for fewer students. This will be dependent on securing approval from the Welsh Government, the NHS, and Health Education and Improvement Wales. No firm commitments were made, despite headlines which claimed, misleadingly, that the nursing school had been “saved”. All nursing staff still remain in scope for redundancy; and

81 staff have applied, and been approved, for voluntary redundancy, and numerous others have taken voluntary severance. This means that management are now “proposing to reduce academic FTE numbers by 286”, rather than by 400. It has been widely reported that the University has “revised its job cuts figure from 400 to 286” – this is misleading, because the University has still effectively lost the same number of staff.

The cuts at Cardiff University explained: April update

Senior managers insist that these kind of disruptive cuts are needed to balance the books, but Cardiff UCU’s independent expert financial analysis suggests otherwise.

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released) plans to generate this much money do not make sense.

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has in excess of £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

The growing public consensus against the cuts:

Since the cuts were announced, the Cardiff University leaders have come under sustained pressure to reverse them:

Cardiff UCU has tabled an alternative proposal for a longer, more gradual recovery drawing on available funds without cutting jobs which has cross-party political support in Wales;

The Welsh Government has made £19m additional funding available to Welsh universities and said they should work in social partnership with UCU to avoid compulsory redundancies;

Management have come under repeated fire for establishing a new campus in Kazakhstan while cutting the University at home; and

Cardiff Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner has been criticised for delaying an appearance to be scrutinised by the Senedd’s Education Committee.

What are the risks of delivering teaching programmes in Kazakhstan according to the University’s own risk assessments documents for higher education partnerships?

The University has pledged that it will rigorously risk-assess the partnership, and all international Foundation Programmes must be quality-controlled by the regulator Medr. This is encouraging.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For Immediate Release: Thursday 9^th April, 2025

CARDIFF UCU RESPONDS TO CARDIFF UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCEMENT ON REDUNDANCY PROCESS AND CONTROVERSIAL RESTRUCTURING PLANS

On Wed 9^th April 2025 management at Cardiff University informed staff about the next stage of its plans for cruel and unnecessary cuts. From the reports and queries we have received from concerned members, we understand:

The vast majority of those who were left in scope for redundancy on 20^th March (1,400) remain so today (the figure now stands at 1,307);

The only staff removed were those in the Schools of Chemistry and Mathematics;

Staff reductions in Mathematics have been impacted by the fact that the Cardiff University Kazakhstan (CUK) agreement “requires input from Mathematics colleagues”;

In the face of massive staff, student, political, and social opposition to its own proposal to axe nursing degrees, the University Executive Board is now “considering” proposals from staff in the School of Healthcare Sciences which could see provision continued in some form but with significantly reduced staff and for fewer students. This will be dependent on securing approval from the Welsh Government, the NHS, and Health Education and Improvement Wales; and

81 staff have applied, and been approved, for voluntary redundancy which means that management are “proposing to reduce academic FTE numbers by 286, rather than 400.

A Cardiff UCU Spokesperson stated:

“We are relieved for the very small number of staff that have been taken out of scope for redundancy. We also welcome the overall reduction in proposed staff cuts and the very early-stage news that there may be some hope for Nursing programmes.

“But today’s news is not good enough. It is unforgivable that so many of our members remain in fear for their livelihoods, especially when other sensible, evidence-based options are on the table. As we have argued from the start, compulsory redundancies are avoidable if the University dials back its overly ambitious and unnecessary money-making targets and draws on its hundreds of millions in available cash to fund a more gradual recovery. Instead, it still favours this rushed, slash-and-burn approach.

“The story for Cardiff University staff today, yet again, is one of uncertainty, fear, administrative chaos, and managerial incompetence. Cardiff University Executive Board’s handling of this process from the beginning has been utterly shambolic. As numerous experts have observed, it has been an object lesson in how not to manage an institutional crisis. The shockwaves caused by senior managers’ actions continue to do lasting and serious damage the University and its reputation.

“Our red line remains that there should be no compulsory redundancies this year at Cardiff University. We have a huge mandate for industrial action in defence of jobs, the shape of which we will announce soon. Our members have built an enormous social, political, and cultural movement against these cuts. From Nobel Prize winners to Sir Elton John, everyone supports us in our simple, modest demand. We urge the University Executive Board to listen too, before the University is hit by a summer of disruptive, but avoidable, industrial action.”

Gareth Lloyd, Wales Official at UCU Cymru stated:

“While UCU Cymru acknowledges any changes which safeguard jobs and courses, this statement from Cardiff University does not address the issue of compulsory redundancies. It is extremely disappointing that most staff targeted remain in scope and suffer stress, anxiety and uncertainty caused by these proposals. These proposed cuts diminish opportunities for students at a time when Wales has the worst participation rates in the UK. Our members have a strong mandate and the support of students and the public. Once more we call upon Cardiff to remove the threat of compulsory redundancies.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

Cardiff UCU’s planned industrial action this summer:

UCU members at Cardiff University have agreed on the first wave of industrial action and this is now in the process of being ratified and announced formally to Cardiff UCU by UCU nationally.

The growing public consensus against the cuts:

Since the cuts were announced, the Cardiff University leaders have come under sustained pressure to reverse them:

Cardiff UCU has tabled an alternative proposal for a longer, more gradual recovery drawing on available funds without cutting jobs which has cross-party political support in Wales;

The Welsh Government has made £19m additional funding available to Welsh universities and said they should work in social partnership with UCU to avoid compulsory redundancies;

Management have come under repeated fire for establishing a new campus in Kazakhstan while cutting the University at home; and

Cardiff Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner has been criticised for delaying an appearance to be scrutinised by the Senedd’s Education Committee.

The cuts at Cardiff University explained: April update

Senior managers insist that these kind of disruptive cuts are needed to balance the books, but Cardiff UCU’s independent expert financial analysis suggests otherwise. At the root of the cuts is a self-imposed plan to chase a 12% surplus on the budget. This would make sense if the University were a business, with the need to pay dividends to shareholders. It would also make sense if the institution had very low reserves (which is also not the case – Cardiff is currently sitting on £188 million in cash reserves). As a union branch, we recognise there are problems with Cardiff’s finances and funding of UK Higher Education more broadly. But these cuts are avoidable, and we have consistently urged more cautious action aimed at a more gradual recovery.

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released).

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has about £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

What are the risks of delivering teaching programmes in Kazakhstan according to the University’s own risk assessments documents for higher education partnerships?

The University has pledged that it will rigorously risk-assess the partnership, and all international Foundation Programmes must be quality-controlled by the regulator Medr. This is encouraging.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For immediate release: Tuesday 25th March 2025

“YMA O HYD” – “WE’RE STILL HERE”, SAY CARDIFF UNI STAFF WITH RESOUNDING MANDATE FOR ANTI-CUTS INDUSTRIAL ACTION; WELSH FOLK LEGEND DAFYDD IWAN OFFERS SUPPORT

Cardiff University staff have overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a fight against huge job cuts, announced the Cardiff University Branch of the University and College Union (Cardiff UCU) today (Tuesday).

The news came as musician, campaigner, and politician Dafydd Iwan lent his support to staff fighting for their jobs, and against management plans to axe whole programmes or departments, including nursing, modern languages, religion and theology, music, and ancient history. Iwan said he was “very worried” about the cuts, and in support of those “campaigning to protect Cardiff University’s jobs and courses and standards, for the benefit of students and staff, and for the benefit of the future of our nation”.

A massive 83% backed strike action, and 86% backed action short of a strike up to and including an assessment boycott, in a ballot that saw over 64% of Cardiff UCU members vote.

The ballot result means that members could now down tools unless management agrees to rule out compulsory redundancies. Staff will meet this week to decide upon next steps including the options of strike action and action short of a strike up to an including an assessment boycott, which could disrupt student graduations this summer.

Management claims it needs to make the cuts to balance the books, but UCU’s independent analysis of Cardiff University’s finances show that they could draw on £188m in available cash to protect jobs and student provision [see the notes to editors for more detail].

Since the cuts were announced, the Cardiff University leaders have come under sustained pressure to reverse them:

Cardiff UCU has tabled an alternative proposal for a longer, more gradual recovery drawing on available funds without cutting jobs which has cross-party political support in Wales;

The Welsh Government has made £19m additional funding available to Welsh universities and said they should work in social partnership with UCU to avoid compulsory redundancies;

Management have come under repeated fire for establishing a new campus in Kazakhstan while cutting the University at home; and

This week, Cardiff Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner was criticised for delaying an appearance to be scrutinised by the Senedd’s Education Committee.

At-risk staff, many unable to speak out against the cuts because of a widely reported “climate of fear” fostered by senior managers, have built a vibrant coalition in defence of their jobs. Welsh Musical legend Dafydd Iwan, an Honorary Fellow at the University since 2022, and an alumnus of its BA in Architecture, is the latest to add his voice to the campaign. He follows Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Nobel-prize winning academics, artists and musicians including Sir Simon Rattle, MP’s and MS’s across parties, public figures such as Former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock, the Royal College of Nursing, Church groups, as well as the presidents of the European and London Mathematical Societies.

Hundreds of musicians from across the UK also added to Cardiff Uni managers’ woes when they took to Cardiff streets last month, performing Iwan’s “alternative Welsh national anthem” and protest song “Yma o Hyd” (in English: “We’re Still Here”) as the Cardiff University Salvation Orchestra.

Dafydd Iwan said: “As a fellow of three Welsh Universities, I am very worried about the tremendous squeeze on their funding these days. The future of Wales depends to a large extent on having viable and progressive Universities to serve them. I send this message of support to everyone who is campaigning to protect Cardiff University’s jobs and courses and standards, for the benefit of students and staff, and for the benefit of the future of our nation.”

Cardiff University UCU branch president Dr Joey Whitfield said: “This ballot result shows Cardiff staff are utterly opposed to the cruel and unnecessary cuts management are trying to force through. It’s time for Cardiff University leaders to listen to staff, and the huge amount of public, political, cultural, and community support we have built, before they further damage the University’s tattered reputation. They must use the University’s £188m of available cash to fund a more cautious and evidence-based approach to improving our finances without destroying our members’ lives. Industrial action is always difficult, and always a last resort, but if the University doesn’t negotiate and row back on its disastrous plans we will be left with no choice.”

UCU general secretary Dr Jo Grady said: “Cardiff staff are furious at the university’s refusal to work with UCU to avoid these swingeing cuts. The vice-chancellor now needs to concentrate on resolving this dispute and avoiding strike action at home before thinking about opening up a new campus in Kazakhstan.”

-Ends-

Datganiad Cyfryngau: UCU CaerdyddI

Dydd Mawrth 25 Mawrth 2025

“YMA O HYD” – DYWED GWEITHWYR PRIFYSGOL CAERDYDD GYDA MANDAD YSGUBOL DROS WEITHREDU DIWYDIANNOL YN ERBYN TORIADAU; DAFYDD IWAN YN SEFYLL CORNEL STAFF

Mae staff Prifysgol Caerdydd wedi datgan eu cefnogaeth llethol i weithredu diwydiannol yn eu brwydr yn erbyn toriadau swyddi enfawr, cyhoeddodd Cangen Prifysgol Caerdydd o’r Undeb Prifysgolion a Cholegau (UCU Caerdydd) heddiw (dydd Mawrth).

Daeth y newyddion wrth i’r cerddor, ymgyrchydd, a’r gwleidydd Dafydd Iwan cynnig ei gefnogaeth i staff a myfyrwyr sydd yn brwydro dros eu swyddi, ac yn erbyn cynlluniau rheolwyr i gael gwared ar raglenni neu adrannau cyfan, gan gynnwys nyrsio, ieithoedd modern, crefydd a diwinyddiaeth, cerddoriaeth, a hanes yr henfyd. Dywedodd Iwan ei fod yn “bryderus iawn” am y toriadau, ac o blaid y rhai sy’n “ymgyrchu i warchod swyddi a chyrsiau a safonau Prifysgol Caerdydd, er lles myfyrwyr a staff, ac er lles dyfodol ein cenedl”.

Cefnogwyd streicio gan ganran enfawr o 83%, a 86% yn cefnogi gweithredu ag eithrio streic hyd at (ac yn cynnwys) boicot asesiad – mewn pleidlais a welodd dros 64% o aelodau UCU Caerdydd yn bwrw pleidlais.

Mae canlyniad y bleidlais yn golygu y gallai aelodau UCU Caerdydd rhoi stop ar eu gwaith oni bai bod y rheolwyr yn diystyru diswyddiadau gorfodol. Bydd staff yn cyfarfod yr wythnos hon i drafod a phleidleisio ar weithredu diwydiannol gan gynnwys streic a gweithredu ag eithrio streic – gan gynnwys boicot asesu, a allai amharu ar raddio myfyrwyr yr haf hwn.

Mae’r rheolwyr yn honni bod angen y toriadau i fantoli’r cyfrifon, ond mae dadansoddiad annibynnol UCU o gyllid Prifysgol Caerdydd yn dangos y gallent wneud defnydd o’r £188m mewn arian parod sydd ar gael iddynt, er mwyn diogelu swyddi a darpariaeth myfyrwyr [gweler y nodiadau i olygyddion am ragor o fanylion].

Ers cyhoeddi’r toriadau, mae arweinwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd wedi dod o dan bwysau parhaus i’w gwrthdroi:

• Mae UCU Caerdydd wedi cyflwyno cynnig amgen ar gyfer adferiad hirach, graddol, gan ddefnyddio’r arian sydd ar gael ac heb dorri swyddi – cynllun sydd â chefnogaeth wleidyddol drawsbleidiol yng Nghymru;

• Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi sicrhau bod £19m o gyllid ychwanegol ar gael i brifysgolion Cymru a dywedodd y dylent weithio mewn partneriaeth gymdeithasol ag UCU i osgoi diswyddiadau gorfodol;

• Mae rheolwyr wedi bod dan y lach tro ar ôl tro oherwydd sefydlu campws newydd yn Kazakhstan tra bod y Brifysgol gartref dan y fwyell; a

• Yr wythnos hon, beirniadwyd Is-ganghellor Caerdydd, yr Athro Wendy Larner am geisio ohirio ymddangosiad o flaen Pwyllgor Addysg y Senedd i graffu ar eu penderfyniadau.

Mae’r staff sydd dan fygythiad – a nifer sy’n methu siarad yn erbyn y toriadau oherwydd yr “hinsawdd o ofn” hysbys sydd wedi’i feithrin gan uwch reolwyr – wedi adeiladu clymblaid lliwgar i amddiffyn eu swyddi. Dafydd Iwan, sy’n Gymrawd er Anrhydedd yn y Brifysgol ers 2022, ac yn gyn-fyfyriwr ar ei BA mewn Pensaernïaeth, yw’r diweddaraf i ychwanegu ei lais at yr ymgyrch. Mae’n dilyn y Fonesig Kiri Te Kanawa, academyddion, artistiaid a cherddorion sydd wedi ennill gwobrau Nobel gan gynnwys Syr Simon Rattle, ASau ac MS ar draws pleidiau, ffigurau cyhoeddus fel y Cyn Arweinydd Llafur Neil Kinnock, y Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol, grwpiau Eglwysig, yn ogystal â llywyddion Cymdeithasau Mathemategol Ewrop a Llundain.

Ychwanegodd cannoedd o gerddorion o bob rhan o’r DU hefyd at ofid rheolwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd pan aethant i’r strydoedd yng Nghaerdydd fis diwethaf, gan berfformio “anthem genedlaethol amgen” Iwan gyda’r gân brotest “Yma o Hyd”, yn enw Cerddorfa Iachawdwriaeth Prifysgol Caerdydd.

Meddai Dafydd Iwan: “Fel cymrawd i dair o Brifysgolion Cymru, rwy’n gofidio’n fawr am y wasgfa aruthrol sydd ar eu cyllid y dyddiau hyn. Mae dyfodol Cymru yn dibynnu i raddau helaeth ar gael Prifysgolion hyfyw a blaengar i’w gwasanaethu. Anfonaf y neges hon o gefnogaeth i bawb sydd yn ymgyrchu i warchod swyddi a chyrsiau a safonau Prifysgol Caerdydd, er lles myfyrwyr a staff, ac er budd dyfodol ein cenedl.”

Dywedodd llywydd cangen UCU Prifysgol Caerdydd, Dr Joey Whitfield: “Mae canlyniad y bleidlais hon yn dangos bod staff Caerdydd yn gwbl wrthwynebus i’r toriadau creulon a diangen y mae rheolwyr yn ceisio eu gorfodi arnom. Mae’n hen bryd i arweinwyr Prifysgol Caerdydd wrando ar staff, a’r gefnogaeth gyhoeddus, wleidyddol, ddiwylliannol a chymunedol enfawr yr ydym wedi’i hadeiladu, cyn iddynt wneud niwed pellach i enw da’r Brifysgol, y maen nhw’n brysur yn chwalu’n yfflon. Mae’n rhaid iddynt gwneud defnydd gofalus o’r £188 sydd ar gael i’r Brifysgol ar sail y dystiolaeth, a heb ddinistrio bywydau ein haelodau. Mae gweithredu diwydiannol bob amser yn anodd, a bob amser yn ddewis olaf, ond os na fydd y Brifysgol yn negodi ac yn ailystyried ei chynlluniau trychinebus ni fydd gennym unrhyw ddewis.”

Dywedodd ysgrifennydd cyffredinol yr UCU, Dr Jo Grady: “Mae staff Caerdydd yn gandryll ynghylch bwriad y brifysgol i wrthod gweithio gydag UCU i osgoi’r toriadau digynsail hyn. Mae angen i’r is-ganghellor ganolbwyntio ar ddatrys yr anghydfod hwn ac osgoi streic ar yr aelwyd, cyn ystyried agor campws newydd yn Kazakhstan.”

-Diwedd-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

The cuts at Cardiff University explained:

Cardiff University senior management announced cuts to staff and student provision unprecedented in UK higher education. Cardiff UCU, the recognised representative trade union for academic and academic-related staff at the University, condemned the plans as cruel and unnecessary, and is balloting for strike action, and action short of a strike, to fight compulsory redundancies.

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released).

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has about £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

What are the risks of delivering teaching programmes in Kazakhstan according to the University’s own risk assessments documents for higher education partnerships?

On 17^th March the University announced that its governing body University Council had approved a proposal for Cardiff University to establish a branch in Astana, Kazakhstan. Even before this decision (in December 2024) it has been directing staff to design programmes of study ready to taught under unclear conditions, in an unfamiliar environment, to begin delivery as soon as September 2025. The University’s partner in Kazakhstan, a new NGO with no history of delivering such projects called Qualified Centre for Education – Public Foundation posted a video of the (as yet undeveloped) land where the Cardiff University campus will be sited in December 2024.

The University has pledged that it will rigorously risk-assess the partnership, and all international Foundation Programmes must be quality-controlled by the regulator Medr. This is encouraging.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For immediate release: Thursday 19th March 2025

1,400 CARDIFF UNI STAFF STILL AT RISK OF REDUNDANCY; UNION QUESTIONS ROLE OF KAZAKSTAN SCHEME IN RESTRUCTURING PLAN

Today 1,400 of our members received emails from Cardiff University stating they were still “in scope” for redundancy. This represents a decrease of just 400 since the cuts were announced. Cardiff UCU continues to argue that redundancies are unnecessary and that the University’s existing available cash (in excess of £188m) should be drawn on to fund a more gradual recovery which does not sacrifice jobs. It has submitted detailed, costed proposals with widespread political support to the University to back this up.

The union is also worried that the University has linked future narrowing of the redundancy pool to its plans to open a branch in Kazakhstan, stating that the scheme “may reduce staff reductions”. The union expressed concern that this agreement is being rushed, exposing the University to too much risk, and that staff feel pressured to accept significant changes to their roles in order to keep their jobs.

On 17^th March the University announced that its governing body University Council had approved a proposal for Cardiff University to establish a branch in Astana, Kazakhstan. Even before this decision (in December 2024) it has been directing staff to design programmes of study ready to taught under unclear conditions, in an unfamiliar environment, to begin delivery as soon as September 2025. The University’s partner in Kazakhstan, a new NGO with no history of delivering such projects called Qualified Centre for Education – Public Foundation posted a video of the (as yet undeveloped) land where the Cardiff University campus will be sited in December 2024.

Today Cardiff UCU published a series of questions on the Kazakhstan venture which it said the University had so far failed to answer, despite staff being required to develop outline plans for courses and course progression in Kazakhstan for months.

It warned that Cardiff University, compared to other universities, has been late in the day in developing plans for trans-national education, and was now rushing its plans through in a manner which threatens the University’s reputation.

“Cardiff University is a significant research-led Russell Group university with an international reputation that attracts students from all over the globe”, said a Cardiff UCU spokesperson. “Yet its plans for trans-national education appear now to be driven by opportunism rather than a carefully thought-out strategy. We mean no disrespect to the Kazakh people or their government when we say Cardiff University’s headfirst dive into their country is in danger of rebounding.”

Cardiff UCU’s questions to the University revolve around the University’s own policies for risk management of new partnerships.

“What risk evaluation has the University presented to council about its Kazakhstan plans in respect of what could go wrong, and when will this be published?

“What plans does the University have to mitigate the risks in line with its taxonomy of educational partnerships?

“What is the likely impact on the University’s reputation should things go wrong?

“How does the University intend to present the partnership (in particular its due diligence) as part of the external Quality Enhancement Review process, which relates to Welsh HE regulator Medr’s Quality Assessment Framework?

“What assessment has the University’s Audit and Risk Committee made of the risk and when will it publish such an assessment?

“What support will the University give to staff members working in Kazakhstan?

“Does the University’s planning take into account Foreign Office guidance on living and working in Kazakhstan, including for women and LGBTQ staff?’

“Has the University done the necessary environmental and sustainability impact assessment for the scheme?”

Cardiff UCU members have not yet heard satisfactory answers to these questions, and are concerned by reports of nepotism and corruption in the Higher Education sector, as well as by the backdrop of repression and human rights abuses in the country. Some staff have already been told by managers that they will get to keep their jobs if they agree to teach in Kazakhstan. And now the University is indicating its new venture might mean fewer jobs have to be cut. By running a consultation on redundancies at the same time as launching a risky new transnational education venture, there is a danger that staff will feel pressured into accepting changes to their roles as part of the widely reported “climate of fear” at the University. All of this could be avoided if a slower, more careful, approach to both improving the University’s finances, as well as growing its transnational education plans, were adopted.”

The spokesperson added: “Cardiff UCU is not opposed to transnational education, but it is worrying that a Welsh University is cutting hundreds of jobs and axing whole departments at home at the same time as it is investing significant resources to provide education abroad in a hastily arranged deal with an NGO that’s existed for less than a year. The chequered history of Welsh Universities engaging in international adventures suggests this kind of agreement should be approached very slowly, and with lots of caution. But our members across the University, many of them at risk of redundancy, have already been put to work planning initial programmes of study in time for a September 2025 start to teaching. The University is stressing that it’s doing due diligence, but its ambitious timetable suggests that it’s rushing in without due regard for what’s left of our reputation.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

What are the risks of delivering teaching programmes in Kazakhstan according to the University’s own risk assessments documents for higher education partnerships?

The University has pledged that it will rigorously risk-assess the partnership, and all international Foundation Programmes must be quality-controlled by the regulator Medr. This is encouraging.

The University’s Tattered Reputation in International Student Markets

The Cuts, and the way they were announced in January 2025, have led to the University’s reputation being trashed on the world stage. Cardiff UCU has already been quoted in The Times of India describing the cuts as “cruel and unnecessary” and as having a “devastating impact” on staff and students. Similarly, The Shri Lanka Guardian quoted a UCU rep calling the Vice Chancellor’s proposals “academic vandalism”.

Most significantly, critical news coverage has aired on the rolling news channel and website of Singapore-owned Chanel News Asia, which broadcasts to huge audiences across South East Asia (and plays a role similar to Al Jazeera in the Arab World). In this piece Cardiff UCU said: “the proposed job and course cuts hinge on the university’s self-imposed plan to make a 12 per cent surplus year-on-year. That would be reasonable if they were a business that needed to pay out money to shareholders, or even if they were a university with small or non-existent reserves, but Cardiff University has huge reserves. […] We need a more cautious, drawn-out recovery, drawing on a small amount of those rainy-day reserves to defend staff jobs.”

The cuts at Cardiff University explained:

Cardiff University senior management announced cuts to staff and student provision unprecedented in UK higher education. Cardiff UCU, the recognised representative trade union for academic and academic-related staff at the University, condemned the plans as cruel and unnecessary, and is balloting for strike action, and action short of a strike, to fight compulsory redundancies.

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released).

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has about £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For immediate release: Monday 10th March 2025

CARDIFF UNI STAFF TARGET HOUSE OF LORDS UNIVERSITY RECEPTION

Cardiff University academics are hoping members of the House of Lords will take up their campaign against job losses this week when the University holds a reception for its alumni. Lord Griffiths of Burry Port has organised a reception on behalf of the University for which alumni are being expected to pay. They are invited to the event with Pat Younge (Chair of University Council) and Prof Wendy Larner (the Vice Chancellor) where they can: “enjoy wine and canapés in the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace, with wonderful views of the River Thames.”

The Cardiff branch of the University and College Union (Cardiff UCU) are targeting the event as part of its extensive political lobbying against the cuts after members informed us that they felt “insulted” that it was going ahead in the current context. They have circulated a draft letter for at-risk staff to send to Welsh Members of the House of Lords, and numerous of them have already responded offering support. The letter says:

‘On 13th March, my University, Cardiff University is holding a reception in the House of Lords for alumni at 6.00pm.

‘I am one of 1800 academic staff at Cardiff University who was told on 29 January that our jobs were at risk of redundancy. I am writing to encourage you to go to the reception, which is being hosted by Lord Griffiths of Burry Port, and to ask the following questions of the Vice-Chancellor and other leading university figures:

Why have they delayed until 2025 taking serious action to address the University deficit? Earlier action could have meant a more measured approach, and the Vice-Chancellor told staff on 4 February that action could have been taken earlier.
Why have they determined that they need to take such sharp, destructive action in the short term, rather than spreading out their financial remediation over a period of years, especially given that they £188m in available cash to draw on?
Why are they threatening to close the schools of nursing, music, ancient history, modern languages, religion and theology?
How many professional services staff jobs do they expect to cut after the current round of academic job losses takes place? Is it true that they expect as many as 600 further jobs to go?
What action do they plan to restore trust at home and abroad after these cuts have paralysed the university and damaged its reputation, undermining its position as Wales’s leading research-led university and only Russell Group university?

‘If you are unable to attend the reception, I hope that you will write to the Vice-Chancellor raising these questions.’

A spokesperson for Cardiff UCU said: ‘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. Senior managers need to understand that the union will follow the University and pose these kinds of questions wherever it goes, whether that be the House of Lords or Kazakhstan, where it has been announced that teaching will start this autumn.

‘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.’

ENDS

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

The cuts at Cardiff University explained:

Cardiff University senior management last week announced cuts to staff and student provision unprecedented in UK higher education. Cardiff UCU, the recognised representative trade union for academic and academic-related staff at the University, condemned the plans as cruel and unnecessary, and is balloting for strike action, and action short of a strike, to fight compulsory redundancies.

From 11am on January 28th staff were invited to a series of briefings in which the alarming scale and depth of the proposed restructure was outlined to them. Many were left shell-shocked and in tears, fearing for their jobs, their students, and the future of what seems likely to be a radically altered University. The announcements were wide-ranging, but included plans to: cut whole departments or programmes (Nursing, Modern Languages, Religion and Theology, Music, and Ancient History were all named); axe 400 academic staff, 7 per cent of the workforce (with the promise of further, likely bigger, cuts to professional services administrative staff later in the year); and merge many existing schools (including the formation of a new department incorporating English, linguistics, archaeology, philosophy, history, Welsh, and remaining modern languages not already cut).

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

Today’s announcement of a £19 million cash injection for the sector in Wales makes it even more difficult for Cardiff University’s Executive Board to plough ahead with its plans to slash 400 jobs and close entire departments and programmes. Now more than ever it lacks the political cover for it’s cruel and unnecessary cuts.

· The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income (EBIDA). No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

· This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

· The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income (EBIDA) target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large accessible cash reserves (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released).

· This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

· As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has about £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

· Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For immediate release: Thursday 18th February 2025

Cardiff UCU Responds to Welsh Government Announcement of £19 Million for Crisis-Hit Higher Education Sector in Wales

The Welsh Government today announced Universities in Wales will be supported by investment of £18.5 million to help them address the challenges facing the higher education sector, and a further £500,000 to support international recruitment and promotion.

Cardiff UCU Branch President Dr Joey Whitfield said: “Today’s announcement of a £19 million cash injection for the sector in Wales makes it even more difficult for Cardiff University’s Executive Board to plough ahead with its plans to slash 400 jobs and close entire departments and programmes. Now more than ever it lacks the political cover for its cruel and unnecessary cuts. Along with its £188 million in accessible cash, the promised money from Welsh Government gives Cardiff University no excuse to make 400 more of our members redundant.”

Cardiff UCU Media Spokesperson said: “It is hugely encouraging to see the Welsh Government taking the lead in the UK and make a start on materially addressing the Higher Education funding crisis. This will put more pressure on Cardiff University’s management to row back on their brutal and unnecessary cuts, and institute the more gradual, humane recovery plan we’ve argued for all along. We would also urge the Welsh Government to make any new funds conditional upon governance reform and protecting access to, and participation in Welsh Universities. Otherwise, they risk throwing good money after bad.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

The cuts at Cardiff University explained:

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

· The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income (EBIDA). No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

· This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

· Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

Media Statement: Cardiff UCU

For immediate release: Thursday 13^th February 2025

Cardiff Uni Cuts Will “Fuel an Already Extreme Crisis of Participation” in Welsh Higher Education: Is the Welsh Government “Avoiding” the Issue?

Cardiff University Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner’s brutal cuts, and plans for the future of the institution, will fuel an already-serious crisis of participation in Welsh Higher Education (HE) says Cardiff University’s branch of the University and College Union (Cardiff UCU). Meanwhile, at-risk union members scrutinising Welsh Government communications have questioned the decision of the Minister for Further and Higher Education in Wales Vikki Howells MS to drop a planned update to the Senedd on young people’s participation in education.

Prof Larner’s plans for a post-cuts Cardiff University include raising tariffs to offer fewer spaces to UK “home” students, further prioritising attracting high fee-paying international students, and chasing league table rankings in order to become a smaller, more elite institution with what it calls “higher quality cohorts” of students. This comes as Welsh politicians grapple with a participation crisis in higher education. Currently only 33 per cent of our young people end up going to University, which is the lowest rate in the UK. In London, the figure is 49 per cent and in Northern Ireland, 38 per cent.

Ms Howells has expressed disappointment at the Cardiff University plans but says that no further money will be made available by the Welsh Government to address the crisis and that the UK government needs to review the funding system for UK HE. Government has so far not addressed new revelations about how the proposed restructure at the University will impact participation levels and access to HE places. They will come under increased pressure to do so after it emerged that plans to update Senedd members on post-16 participation in education on 18^th February (announced on 4^th February) had been dropped a week later (in a revised plan posted on 11^th February). UCU representatives are concerned that the Welsh Government is “avoiding the issue” and not publicly intervening in University restructuring plans which would “fuel an already extreme crisis in participation”.

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said: “In Wales, less than one in three 18-year-olds entered higher education in 2023-24, compared with almost half in London. Now, we learn that some universities are responding to the funding crisis by raising their tariffs and making it even more difficult for Welsh learners to get a place. During the Covid Pandemic, Mark Drakeford intervened to rescue higher education. As Cabinet Secretary for Finance, rather than allowing Welsh Universities to wither on his watch, he must work with Lynne Neagle to stabilize the sector and prevent a damaging cycle of strikes and job losses.”

Cardiff UCU President Dr Joey Whitfield said: “We call on the Welsh Government to do more to address the sector-wide problems facing HE in Wales, as well as the immediate issues at Cardiff University. They need to stop being taken in by the Vice Chancellor’s bland reassurances over job losses and publicly communicate a clear red line over compulsory redundancies, in line with UCU’s argument for drawing on some of its accessible £188m in cash to fund a more gradual recovery. They should intervene to stop the Cardiff University Executive Board’s plan to cut chunks out of the University in a way which would be catastrophic for future learners, the future Welsh workforce, and fuel an already extreme crisis in participation.”

Cardiff UCU Media Spokesperson Dr Andy Williams said: “The University’s cruel and unnecessary cuts plans are dripping with unexamined prejudice which will end up further shutting working class and ethnic minority young people out of Universities in Wales. They say they want to turn Cardiff University into a smaller, more agile institution but seem oblivious to the fact that deprioritising home students, and axing courses like nursing, will just return us to the bad old days when University was for the privileged elite. The Welsh Government is not taking a strong enough line with University bosses. They need to stop avoiding this issue, stop passing the buck to Westminster, and wake up to what these plans mean for staff at risk of redundancy as well as young people in Wales.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

Is the Welsh Government avoiding the issue of participation in Welsh Universities?

So far there has been a conspicuous silence from the Welsh Government regarding recent revelations about Cardiff University Executive Board’s plans to re-shape the University along more elite lines. Cardiff UCU is worried about how the wide and deep cuts will affect access to the University for home students, and undo the good work done in recent years to widen participation (especially for minoritised students of different kinds). The Minister dropping her plans to update the Senedd on this issue is cause for further concern. Screenshots outlining this issue are included below.

The cuts at Cardiff University explained:

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income. No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;

This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;

The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large amounts of accessible cash (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released).

This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.

As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has about £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.

Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email: whitfieldj1@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Siôn Jones (Welsh, English)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Dr Renata Medeiros-Mirra (English)
Email: medeirosmirrarj@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07527 703597

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

News Release: Cardiff University Branch, University and College Union (UCU)

For immediate release: Thursday 6th February 2025

No confidence vote for Cardiff University Vice Chancellor Wendy Larner: Unprecedented cuts “a case study in incompetent governance.”

A packed open meeting of the Cardiff University UCU Branch yesterday voted overwhelmingly to hold a no confidence vote in the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof Wendy Larner and the University’s Executive Board (UEB) over their plans to axe 400 staff and cut schools and programmes in nursing, music, modern languages, ancient history, and religion. Totalling 13 per cent of academic staff at the Uni, the initial 400 job losses will be followed by more cuts to administrative and support staff later this year. Reflecting the anger and uncertainty of staff, at the biggest meeting in the branch’s history 353 voted in favour with only three against (for the full motion see notes to editors below).

The deep cuts at the institution announced last week, along with the manner of their announcement, have damaged the University’s standing at home and abroad, and staff are concerned that the handling of the crisis is causing irreversible damage to the University’s reputation at a very precarious time. Cardiff UCU has repeatedly argued that the cuts are not just cruel, but unnecessary, and hinge upon the University’s overly ambitious plan to achieve a 12% operating surplus year on year. This would make sense if it were a business, or even if it were a University without reserves in excess of £500m (£188m of which are accessible), but it is neither. The UCU insists that a more gradual, less draconian, recovery plan which draws on available cash is still possible (for more on the financial alternatives see notes for editors below).

The vote came as bombshell media leaks from anonymous senior staff members cast further doubt on the competence of the Vice Chancellor and her team, as well as the effectiveness of Cardiff University’s Council as its governing body. Revelations published by Wales Online show the Vice Chancellor Prof Larner admitting that she could have acted to address the University’s financial deficit earlier, and by implication over a longer period with more care for staff lives and the University’s reputation. The report also shows that Prof Larner ignored warnings from University Council to act sooner, suggesting that governance at the University is dysfunctional. The University responded by saying it was being “brave” and making “difficult decisions”.

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said: “Yesterday’s overwhelming vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor reflects the deep-seated anger and frustration within Cardiff University. Staff deserve leadership that fights for their jobs and for the integrity of education, not reckless job cuts that put livelihoods at risk. It is crucial that the administration listens to the voices of those who are dedicated to our students and the future of the institution.”

Cardiff UCU President Dr Joey Whitfield said: “The cruel and unnecessary cuts package announced last week has done significant reputational damage to our university. It’s a case study in incompetent governance. The nature of the plan, and the manner in which it was communicated, demonstrates a dereliction of the duty of care the University executive have for their staff and the duty of stewardship they have over this important institution.

“The cuts will have a profound impact on student recruitment, our students’ wellbeing and security, attracting and retaining academic talent, the university’s relations with the NHS, Welsh and UK Governments, and other key stakeholders, as well as the economic and cultural life of Wales as a whole. It’s no wonder that staff and students have lost confidence in the executive’s leadership.”

“We’ll continue to make the case for a less damaging recovery. To underscore that, we will push for a huge turnout in this no confidence vote, as well as the ballot of our members on industrial action up to and including strikes and a marking boycott. Cardiff staff won’t take this lying down.”

Cardiff UCU Media Spokesperson Dr Andy Williams said: “The anger among our members and Cardiff students is palpable, especially because they see this whole mess is avoidable. The vote of no confidence, along with yet more damaging leaks, are piling pressure on the Vice Chancellor and her team. She now admits she should have acted earlier, and that she ignored the warnings of Council. By implication, this means our financial issues could have been, and should still be, handled at a gentler pace, over a longer period, drawing on our available cash to protect jobs.”

“Council letting the executive fall asleep at the wheel also poses serious questions about the effectiveness of their governance. That the Vice Chancellor’s response to this massive, self-inflicted crisis is to claim she has been ‘brave’, and ask for sympathy over her difficult decisions, is just a slap in the face to the thousands of staff she’s needlessly placed at risk and the students who’s courses she’s trashing.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

What is Cardiff UCU?

Full text of motion to go ahead with a vote of no confidence in the Vice Chancellor and University Executive Board (UEB) which passed at an open meeting of the Cardiff UCU branch on Wednesday 5^th February:

“Firstly, and most importantly, we want to express our solidarity with each one of you following the devastating news delivered by the UEB on the 28^th of January 2025. We want to re-assure you that your union stands ready and by your side.

The proposals made by UEB threaten the livelihood of hundreds of colleagues, the reputation of our university, and our place in Welsh society. We have communicated our concerns in no uncertain terms to Welsh Government and are willing to work with them. The handling of the announcements has also been reported by many members as being poorly conducted; with a lack of care and compassion that UEB has a duty to uphold. We are aware that the university has sufficient reserves, including liquid reserves, to guarantee no compulsory redundancies and have consistently urged them to use this money to enact a more gradual, less damaging recovery.

We therefore propose a motion of no confidence in the Cardiff University Executive Board and Cardiff University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Wendy Larner. Should a vote of no confidence be passed, we will engage Council to seriously consider the will of staff, the impact of the proposed redundancies on our institution, and the reputational damage that UEB’s proposal has caused.

We are the largest university in Wales, and Wales’ only Russell Group University. We, as staff along with our students, are the university and we contribute significantly to the Welsh economy, to the culture of Wales, and the building of a Welsh nation. It is regrettable that, whilst redundancies are being announced in Cardiff, UEB are still proceeding with outsourcing our resources through the opening of Cardiff University in Kazakhstan next academic year.

We propose that members and the Cardiff University community to participate in a Vote of No Confidence. Membership of a campus trade union is not a requirement. The vote relates to the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and the University Executive Board, based on the substantial concerns expressed by staff and UEB’s handling of the current situation.

The announcement made on the 28^th of January has done significant reputational damage to our university and the manner in which the proposal was communicated demonstrates a derelict of duty of care that UEB have towards university staff. The proposal put forward by UEB, and the communication thereof, will have a profound impact on student recruitment, attracting of early career academics, staff retention, and our university’s relations with NHS Wales, Welsh government, and other key public and private sector stakeholders. Members of Parliament have come out in support of staff following UEB’s announcement, as have Members of Senedd who have met with us to express their concerns.”

The cuts at Cardiff University explained:

Cardiff UCU’s independent financial analysis of the case for the cuts:

The massive cuts hinge on the university chasing a 12% operating surplus on adjusted income (EBIDA). No rationale for this has been provided, except by reference to sector averages;
This is an ambitious target which is at the core of the austerity plan we are currently facing, the threat of widespread compulsory redundancies and the axing of entire programmes and departments;
The 12% operating surplus on adjusted income target may have made sense in a previous era in order to build capital and would make sense for institutions that have very low reserves with the urgent need to maintain financial sustainability, but in Cardiff University’s present financial context with large accessible cash reserves (£188 million as of 31st July 2024, more since the most recent accounts were released).
This target seems to be prioritising the health of the University’s bank account for its own sake, instead of prioritising the health of the organisation and the lives of its staff. As an organisation run on charitable principles, Cardiff University is not meant to hoard cash beyond what is necessary for the stability of the organisation.
As mentioned above, Cardiff University currently has about £188 million in accessible cash which it can use to turn things around positively in a more gradual, measured, and sustainable manner over a longer period.
Lowering the self-imposed and overly ambitious operating surplus target would negate any argument for the need to cut jobs and pose zero risk to the institution.

Cardiff UCU media contacts (languages spoken indicated in brackets)

Dr Renata Madeiros Mirra (Cardiff UCU Branch Chair, English)
Email: renata_jorge@hotmail.com
Phone: 07527 703597

Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email joeywhitfield@gmail.com
Phone 07412 079147

Dr Andy Williams (English)
Email: llantwit@hotmail.com
Phone: 07798 603706

Dr Siôn Jones (Cymraeg)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867

Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk

News Release: Cardiff University Branch, University and College Union (UCU)

For immediate release: Tuesday 28 January 2025

Cardiff University senior management today announced cuts to departments, and degree programmes on a scale that is unprecedented in UK higher education. Cardiff UCU, the recognised representative trade union for academic and academic-related staff at the University, condemned the plans as cruel and unnecessary, vowing to ballot for strike action and fight compulsory redundancies tooth and nail.

The announcements were wide-ranging, but included plans to cut entire departments and programmes. Nursing, Modern Languages, Religion and Theology, Music, and Ancient History were all named. The axe will be taken to 400 staff, 7% of the academic workforce, with the promise of further, possibly bigger, cuts to professional services administrative staff later in the year. There will be mergers of many existing schools including the formation of a new school of “Global Humanities” incorporating English, linguistics, archaeology, philosophy, history and Welsh. Modern Language degrees are to cease.

Senior managers insist that these devastating cuts are needed to balance the books, but Cardiff UCU’s independent expert financial analysis suggests otherwise. At the root of the cuts is a self-imposed plan to chase a 12% surplus on the budget. This would make sense if the University were a business, with the need to pay dividends to shareholders. It would also make sense if the institution had very low reserves (which is also not the case – Cardiff is currently sitting on £188 million in cash reserves). As a union branch, we recognise there are problems with Cardiff’s finances and the funding of UK Higher Education more broadly. But these cuts are avoidable, and we have consistently urged for more cautious action aimed at a more gradual recovery.

Cardiff UCU President Dr Joey Whitfield, himself a member of staff in the threatened School of Modern Languages, said:

“Like all of our colleagues, I’m absolutely shell shocked. The cuts are cruel and avoidable. They’ll damage our members, our students, the city, and Wales as a whole. We will continue to make the case for a more cautious and evidence-based approach, but we’ll also fight any compulsory redundancies tooth and nail.

“We are proud that Cardiff University is currently a world-leading institution. Sadly, after today, the Vice Chancellor is making us world-leader in doling out brutal cuts to its staff and students.

“We are ready for constructive discussions, but there’s been little appetite for real dialogue from the University Executive Board so far. We’re also balloting our members on strike action to oppose compulsory job losses. We think that the widespread and callous nature of the proposed cuts across the institution mean members will be prepared to take decisive strike action in order to save jobs.”

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

Cardiff UCU media contacts (Welsh and English language speakers indicated):

Dr Renata Madeiros Mirra (Cardiff UCU Branch Chair, English)
Email: renata_jorge@hotmail.com
Phone: 07527 703597
Dr Joey Whitfield (Cardiff UCU Branch President, English)
Email joeywhitfield@gmail.com
Phone 07412 079147
Dr Andy Williams (English)
Email: llantwit@hotmail.com
Phone: 07798 603706
Dr Siôn Jones (Cymraeg)
Email: jonessl26@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 07925 388867
Cardiff UCU Office (staffed part time):
E-mail: ucu@cardiff.ac.uk
Phone: 02920 874443
Website: https://www.cardiffucu.org.uk