The University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has announced plans to cut the equivalent of 75 full-time positions as part of an organisational shake-up aimed at saving £6.2 million.
The move comes after the university posted a £14.4 million deficit in the 2023/24 academic year. Its governing body has approved a further planned shortfall of £8.4 million for the current financial year, prompting action to address the budget gap.
Around 2,000 staff are currently employed across UWS’s campuses in Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton and London.
Unions have condemned the proposal, with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), which represents academic staff, warning it will now move to a statutory strike ballot.
“Staff are upset and very angry about the way they’ve been informed and the way it’s been handled,” said Catherine Clarke, EIS deputy branch secretary.
“The joint trade union position is that there is no financial case for this.”
The university is currently consulting on the proposed cuts, with the process expected to last at least 45 working days. While specific roles at risk have not yet been identified, it is understood that a number of part-time positions could be affected, potentially pushing the total number of job losses beyond 75.
In a statement, a UWS spokesperson said:
“Our organisational change project is designed to put our university finances on a more sustainable footing, to enable an even better student experience and enhanced graduate outcomes.
“In common with the rest of the UK higher education sector, we’re facing a highly challenging financial climate, exacerbated by external factors that have significantly altered the size and shape of our student population and associated funding.”
University leaders have stated they aim to return to a financial surplus by the 2026/27 academic year. In the meantime, union representatives have indicated their intention to reopen talks with UWS management in the coming days.
