UEA’s Vice Chancellor refuses to consider changes to recover the university’s debt. 

The University and College Union (UCU) suggested to extend voluntary severance. The UCU are a trade union in further and higher education representing over 120,000 academics and support staff. The severance means more staff can choose to leave their jobs at the university with pay. This was refused by the Vice Chancellor. 

At the meeting this month, ways to reduce the growing debt were discussed. 

According to the BBC, the UEA is over £30 million in debt. Recently, 170 full-time roles were reduced. 

Prof David Maguire, Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is needed to save an additional £11m to stay on track with our financial sustainability plan. 
 
“These decisions have not been taken lightly, and I recognise that this will be difficult news for our UEA community.” 

This led to 82% of UEA staff having voted in favour of strike action, according to the UCU. 

One way the university plans to reduce their debt are more international students. But it was described to be a “short term solution”. 

Increasing the numbers of students per course and class was suggested. 

With supervisors being made redundant in the University’s plan to save money, one audience member was concerned how this would impact students. The Vice Chancellors Office claimed it would cause no disturbance. 

The UCU shared fears the UEA will have a constant spiral of cuts-failure-cuts. 

With the biggest cause to UEA’s debt being the pay for all the staff, one student, Jaz Brooks asked: “Who decides how much the Vice Chancellors Office team get paid?” 

The response: “Senior staff renumerations committee decide the pay of those people. 

  
“Senate and the University Council are also engaged in the Vice Chancellor Office pay teams.” 

The University and College Union claimed they should be on the board to make these decisions. They fear of misinformation being spread and the decisions they are making based on this misinformation.  

The University council is being circumvented within the university system of checks and balances as a result of this. 

The UCU discussed how students can help support them. 

 
“Contact the Vice Chancellor and let him know that you are concerned about the cuts that are being proposed and what is already happening with students experience.” 
 

For future communication the UCU planned to always collaborate with students and the Vice Chancellor Office team.