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.”
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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.
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 5th 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 28th 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 28th 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 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).
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:
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 (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.
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 managers intend to be a radically altered University.
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.”
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Notes for editors:
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.
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