Uni lecturers to lose jobs over ‘decline in demand’ for subjects
NTU RESTRUCTURES ITS SCHOOL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE
UNIVERSITY lecturers will lose their jobs after a restructuring which Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has blamed on a “decline in student demand” for arts and humanities subjects.
The university has confirmed a number of lecturers will be let go after it restructured its School of Arts and Humanities department, due to what it said was a falling student demand for the group of subjects.
The Post understands these job cuts affect more than 20 academics, mostly within NTU’S English department. NTU said it had recently carried out a formal consultation, after which a “small number” of staff had chosen to voluntarily leave.
An anonymous lecturer claimed the university’s response that the redundancies were voluntary was misleading, as people had feared compulsory redundancy would result in them receiving less money.
NTU, however, argued the changes would make the courses more sustainable in the future.
“NTU has a long history of, and a continuing strong commitment to, arts and humanities subjects, recognising the value and purpose of these disciplines,” a spokesperson said. “In recent years we have undertaken a wide range of actions and interventions to mitigate a continued decline in student demand for these disciplines, which is being faced by many universities, to ensure a sustainable future for them.
“This has included a formal consultation with colleagues on proposals for structural changes within our School of Arts and Humanities.
“Following this consultation process, a small number of colleagues have voluntarily opted to leave the university.
“No colleagues will be leaving through compulsory redundancy. We have worked closely with trade union representatives and colleagues in the School throughout.
“We will continue to fully support colleagues who have opted to leave, as well as those who are involved in structural changes within the School.”
Recently other institutions outside of the city, like the University of East Anglia and University of Kent, have announced the downsizing or even closure of humanities departments as universities come under greater financial pressure.
The decline in students choosing Arts and Humanities subjects has been partially attributed to the promotion of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) subjects, along with a decline in pupils taking associated A-levels.