Consultation on the workforce implications of a review of our academic provision
On Wednesday 19 February, we launched a consultation on the workforce implications of a review of our academic provision. This consultation is open with colleagues and trade unions until Friday 4 April 2025.
We have reviewed the range of courses we currently run alongside our areas of research focus and what they should look like in the future. We have looked at how subjects align to our long-term strategy (USW 2030), student numbers and experience, finances, and their research impact and outputs. We have also reviewed wider impacts such as our industry partnerships, critical regional skills need, and civic and community impact.
This has been a comprehensive review and has resulted in the University taking some difficult decisions, and regrettably, this means that a small number of courses will close to new entrants. In some cases, courses have already been suspended from new student recruitment, and we will now be phasing them out. Every year we close courses for a variety of reasons such as repeated years of low student demand or consolidation of courses, but this is a larger review than would normally be undertaken. Inevitably, with course closures and subject realignments, we will be looking to reduce the workforce which helps to support teaching and learning in select areas.
The small number of courses which have been identified for closure is a decision which is not subject to consultation and has been approved by the Executive team at the University. We are, however, consulting on the associated impact on the staff who help support teaching and learning in these areas.
We are committing that these closures will only happen after all current students have completed their studies.
If you are studying on a course which is scheduled to close in the future, your cohort will be contacted separately by your faculty at the earliest possible opportunity, and at the latest by the end of this week.
We understand that this is an incredibly challenging time for the whole University community, and we’ll do everything we can to ensure you are supported and informed throughout this process.
The below frequently asked questions (FAQs) will be regularly updated throughout this period. If you have any questions, or need support, please contact your course leader and the Advice Zone in the first instance.
Universities across the country are currently facing a range of external challenges. At USW, we regrettably need to make changes to some of the courses we teach to help ensure our future financial sustainability. We need to prioritise the courses which align closely with our USW 2030 Strategy and are helping to make a financial contribution to the challenges we’re facing. As a result of this work, a small number of courses will be closed. Every year we close courses for a variety of reasons such as repeated years of low student demand or consolidation of courses, but this is a larger review than would normally be undertaken.
If you are enrolled on a course which is scheduled to close in the future, you will be contacted at the earliest possible opportunity, and at the latest by the end of this week. If you do not receive an email by this date, you can assume your course is unaffected. If you have any questions about this, please contact your Course Leader in the first instance.
Yes, we are committed to ensuring that all students who are enrolled on a course which is subject to future closure, or workforce changes, can complete their programme of study (within the regulations and registration periods).
As part of this review, we reviewed the number of staff teaching in each subject and course and their workload capacity. In some cases, the number of staff associated with each area was higher than is needed to carry out the teaching of the course. This means that in some areas, we are consulting on a reduction on the number of staff who work there. These proposals form part of the consultation which is open to colleagues until Friday 4 April, and are therefore subject to change.
We need to continue to invest in our infrastructure to remain competitive and secure the long-term future of the University. We currently have strong reserves, built up from previous years where the University has been able to post surpluses, which enables us to invest in the University’s future.
We are continuing with an investment programme, which will be critical to deliver the USW 2030 Strategy and ensure we are financially sustainable. Stopping this investment now would have a detrimental impact on our financial performance in the future as it is likely to impact our ability to retain and attract future students and to effectively compete in an increasingly challenging market.
It is important that the University makes a surplus each year, which allows us to invest and therefore ultimately provide a better student experience.
Without a surplus, what cash we have decreases and our ability to reinvest declines - so we need to target achieving a surplus for the future. That means our income must exceed our costs, which it is not doing now. We need to transform so that we can continue to generate cash each year and be sustainable in a very tough market
We absolutely see a value in all the areas that we’re looking to make changes to - these are not decisions we would ever choose to make if we were not in such tough circumstances. However, regrettably, the higher education landscape is extremely challenging, and we need to make difficult decisions around our course offering. The more courses we offer that cost more to deliver than the income they generate, the more difficult our position will be going forward.
We are committed to ensuring all our students can complete their course. This means that upon graduation you will be completing a programme of study which is of high quality and will allow you to reach your highest potential in the world of work.
Upon completion of your studies, your qualification will still be recognised by future employees and professional bodies and you will join our vibrant alumni community of more than 250,000 graduates. Your employment opportunities will be enhanced, and you will be equipped with the skills to enter the world of work and meet the needs of employers and society. We are clear in our commitment that these proposed changes will not affect your graduate outcomes – we regularly refresh and close courses as part of our business-as-usual activity, and we are fully equipped with the mechanisms to ensure that this transition will not have a detrimental effect on you and your future.
Our highest priority is to ensure you receive a transformational learning, teaching, and student experience at USW. As with all our courses, the quality of the student experience will be continuously monitored, and your learning and teaching experience should not be affected by these proposed changes.
You can raise a formal complaint through the Student Complaints Procedure.
We’re sorry that you’re considering this as an option. In the first instance, we’d advise you contact the Advice Zone, who can signpost you to the relevant support and guidance. We also have a course transfer request at the University, if this is something you would like to explore – more information on this can be found on UniLife.
We appreciate that this update may cause feelings of uncertainty. While we are committed to teaching our current courses, please be reminded that support is available.
For wellbeing support and guidance, there is a range of confidential support available via the Advice Zone, including wellbeing support and a mental health and counselling service.
Togetherall is a digital mental health and wellbeing platform that is available for free to all USW students. It is a safe online community available 24/7 where you can express yourself, access a range of helpful tools, and learn to manage your wellbeing.
The Help Yourself Hub provides links to self-help resources, wellbeing tools, and support available from external organisations.
The Students’ Union are also on hand to provide students with academic support and health and wellbeing support if required.