University ‘consults’ over jobs

Uncertainty hangs over jobs in the engineering department at Waikato University.

The university is in talks with its staff, citing ‘‘little interest from students in electronic engineering’’ as the reason for the consultation. The news comes nine months after the university proposed to axe 17 full-time equivalent jobs from the humanities department. More than 180 submissions were received for that proposal, with most opposing cuts to the music department.

And in June, over 100 people gathered in protest and built a human chain in front of the Conservatorium of Music at the university’s Hamilton campus. Email correspondence from the university in November, said the Faculty of Social Sciences restructure was nearly complete, the only exception was the music department.

The university would not confirm a restructure in the engineering department, but in an email, said it would consider feedback from staff before any decisions were made, or further comment provided.

‘‘The School of Engineering is continuing to experience strong growth particularity in the fields of civil and mechanical engineering,’’ said School of Engineering Dean Professor Mark Dyer.

‘‘However, for quite a number of years there has been little interest from students in electronic engineering. Consequently, we have started a consultation exercise with staff in that area.’’

There are about 30 staff in the School of Engineering, not including research staff or technical support.

Students are not lining up to become electronic engineers.