Consultation on the workforce implications of a review of our academic provision

The University of South Wales (USW) is not exempt from the financial challenges facing the wider Higher Education sector. To ensure our future resilience, we are currently working through a programme of transformation which will enable us to continue delivering for our communities.

Today (Wednesday 19 February) we are launching a 45-day consultation with colleagues and trade unions on the workforce implications of a review of our academic provision. This work has looked to review the range of courses we offer and our areas of research focus.

As a result, we have made the difficult decision that a small number of our courses will close after all current students have completed their studies. This includes some courses where recruitment has already been suspended. Every year we close courses for a variety of reasons, but this is a larger review than would normally be undertaken. In addition, we will also be withdrawing from some research areas to allow us to more closely align our research activity to our four accelerator areas which include crime, security and justice; health and wellbeing; sustainable environment; and creative innovation.  

Inevitably, with course closures and subject realignments, we will be looking to reduce the workforce which helps to support teaching, learning and research activities in select areas.  The proposals outline a reduction of approximately 90 roles from across the institution, including the simplification and reduction of our faculty management structures.

Final outcomes from this process will be confirmed in the summer term. We anticipate that most of these roles will leave at the end of this academic year, but some will exit on a phased basis over the next few years to ensure students on affected courses can complete their programme of study.

Further details about affected areas are not currently available as staff and students are being spoken with directly in the first instance.

We will look to limit compulsory redundancies through our normal processes and will be offering targeted voluntary redundancy for colleagues within affected groups. We are also committed to listening to further challenge through constructive dialogue with trade unions and colleagues throughout the consultation period with the aim of mitigating the impact on colleagues and students.

Our focus will always be on providing our students with the very best experience at USW and making a positive impact through our research excellence. We will ensure that our students, colleagues and partners are fully supported throughout this challenging process.