The official student newspaper of the University of East Anglia | Established 1992 | 92 | 14th February 2022
Senior management integrity questioned
£23 staff
pg. 5
Louise Collins & Matthew Stothard
Venue Editor & Concrete Deputy-Editor
UEA has recently announced that staff redundancies will likely be made as it faces significant financial challenges. On 17 January, an email was sent out to all university staff from Vice-Chancellor David Richardson, explaining that UEA faces “a budget deficit of £23m for 2023/2024 rising to £37m in three years time,” putting them at risk of breaching agreements on bank loans. As such, Richardson outlined the need for faculties to “prioritise their spending” and for Directors of Professional Services to “consider options for a 10 – 20% budget cut,” concluding, “it is unlikely we can make all the savings without compulsory redundancies.” These savings are to be made through an acceleration of the ongoing Strategic Review Programme, which plans to create “a more streamlined educational offer.” In a later staff email seen by Concrete, suggestions to limit redundancies included a “temporary reductions in hours scheme” (staff working less than their contracted hours), an unpaid “career break scheme”, or a voluntary temporary “reduction in salary scheme”. The 17 January email was sent out hours before an article was published by the Eastern Daily Press, with some staff finding out via the article, the announcement came as a surprise to many. Michael Kyriacou, Chair of UEA UCU, informed Concrete staff were previously told UEA was in “good financial health,” whilst,
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million held in
to be in this situation. It’s to manage the institution appropriately at the time, so you don’t end up in this situation, and that’s not a criticism of the people we have in charge; it’s just a statement of fact.” He suggests falling numbers were caused by ineffectively targeting competitors, saying, “I think my colleagues in ARM [Admissions, Recruitment and Marketing] do a fantastic job, but what we’ve lacked is a strategy to deal with, effectively, the Russell Group,” additionally pointing towards the raising of tariffs. For instance, in When considering why this situation 2022 the listed entry requirements has arisen, one area UEA has for BA (Hons) English Literature were focussed heavily on is the falling ABB and for BA (Hons) History were student numbers, with a failure to BBB, which have both risen to AAB reach intake targets. In 2022, UEA for 2023 entry. Kyriacou also points fell short by 8% of their entry targets towards expenditure on projects, (following a 17% shortfall in 2021) - such as Sky House, the cancelled which had, according to their most Arts and Humanities building, which recent financial report, an “adverse UEA’s 2018-19 financial statement financial impact of £6.4 million.” shows £2.2m had already been paid The report states this resulted from towards, and a “failure to maintain a lack of open days throughout the Lasdun Wall,” which in his view Covid-19, as well as “increased have eroded UEA’s financial cushions. competition” in the sector due to Teacher Assessed Grades leading to One concerned staff member - who higher tariff universities attracting also wished to remain anonymous more students. Rising energy costs - refuted UEA’s citation of “pay were also stated as a reason for the and pensions” among the causing telling Concrete, “All debt, standing at “circa £5m in the factors, last year.” UEA has taken some action universities have to pay their staff. It against this, having “fixed the price is remarkable that UEA management on 80-100% of estimated usage seems to be saying that it is an through to Spring 2024 to provide enormous inconvenience that they certainty of costs.” They have also have to pay the people who give the stated the debts were exacerbated lectures, who teach the seminars, by “tuition fees frozen at £9,250 since who look after the estate, who make 2017,” “inflationary pressures on pay,” and cook our food, the researchers and “pensions.” Concrete reached producing this world-class research out to UEA’s Finance Director for that they keep going on about, comment but, at the time of printing, the staff who run our schools and no response was provided. institutes – the people who keep the University going.” Mr Kyriacou argues other universities are facing the same issues and UEA’s Students’ Union Full Time points instead to inappropriate Officer team have responded to management, stating that, “to the situation saying, “We were very handle it differently, properly, is not saddened to hear the news regarding during Covid-19, the view was that “we have a deficit, but long-term recovery is expected.” This outlook is reflected in UEA’s 2021-22 financial statement, which asserted that “There is currently headroom in both our forecast cash balances and banking covenant compliance before additional mitigations would be required”. However, the report did admit that UEA had not been producing the 3% surplus expected from Higher Education institutions for “many years.”
Venue: The evolution of the nude
2023 sex survey results!
pg. 4
deficit: suspense
the UEA’s financial situation, and we are going to meet with the University to discuss this further,” offering to support both staff and students.
preference should be the flesh and blood of staff over the steel and glass of other initiatives.” He expects UEA to make no compulsory redundancies. For now, he suggests that “a lot of people are quite shocked, a lot of people are very scared, very sad,” while Prentoulis told us, "Some colleagues are already looking for other jobs.”
Meanwhile, Nathan Wyatt, a student, SU Non-Portfolio Officer, and President of UEA Labour, told Concrete that he was “calling for the Vice Chancellor to either resign from his position or take a 30% pay cut.” The BBC reported UEA UCU voted When approached for comment, towards having no confidence in UEA told us “The University has UEA senior leadership. In an all staff worked hard to safeguard roles by meeting, Richardson stated he would reducing non-pay related budgets, be taking an "unspecified voluntary but this is no longer sustainable. pay cut", one staff member reported. Unfortunately, this means that it Staff were also told there would be is unlikely all savings can be made no pay cap for staff members earning without compulsory redundancies. over £100,000 a year, of which there Work is currently taking place to identify where savings can be made are over 50. and to ensure plans are in place by Many are concerned about the wide- our next financial year (August/ reaching effect the potential scale September 2023). The University will of redundancies could have on staff continue to keep our staff informed and students. Kyriacou suggested during this period, as well as provide and professional that “if you get rid of the amount of confidential academic staff that I fear they might support to anyone who needs it." there is going to be a tangible impact They also said they would “work on every student on this campus closely with campus trade unions.” because everybody is overworked. Additionally, the Vice Chancellor said There is no fat on the bone to cut.” “UEA is a world-leading institution Marina Prentoulis, Vice Chair of UEA with an international reputation for UCU, also highlighted the risk that research and teaching, but we need “Courses and modules will have to to adapt and change to the world close down,” whilst one Associate around us. As a University, I know Tutor pointed to fears resulting we will work together to evolve and from “a trend of universities cutting grow through these difficult times back on staff, and decimating their to ensure we have securer financial Humanities departments.” Despite foundations and a positive vision for the suspected target areas, one our future success.” member of staff says there has been an increased union of departments, As more meetings are held between stating, the university “expected it to staff and UEA executives, suggestions to avoid mass redundancies may divide us and it did the opposite.” come to fruition. However, with staff When considering the next steps anxieties high and no concrete plan for UEA UCU, Kyriacou told us that of action, the future of UEA jobs “we have to explore all modes of remains uncertain. mitigation, but the employer also needs to understand that their
