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Leeds University facing jobs cuts
DOZENS of jobs are being lost and departments overhauled at Leeds University in a funding squeeze.
Four faculties are thought to be affected, with biological sciences expecting a huge drop in income.
Each year, all UK universities are given notice of how much Government funding they will receive based on scores they achieve on a research assessment exercise (RAE).
In a note to staff, biological sciences head Steve Homans, a professor of structural biology, said that despite being one of the highest-ranked for its research quality, the department was facing a 20 per cent cut in funding.
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"Many will doubtless wonder how improved performance equates with a reduction in income," he said. "The loss of QR (quality-related research) income comes on the back of a significant deficit as a result of the pay award last year. We are presented with a significant challenge."
Another two departments are also understood to be facing restructuring because of research grant cuts, with final decisions to be taken in June.
At the university's School of Healthcare,which doubled its QR rating, up to 33 jobs are being axed because of changes to the National Health Service funding contract.
The Leeds branch of the University and College Union said that the healthcare cuts were an "extreme concern".
"Other cuts around the university illustrate one of our major objections to the RAE: changes in funding formulae result in unpredictable fluctuations in income that threaten stability," the union said in a statement. "Our priority will be to defend jobs."
Overall, the university – which with 30,500 students claims to be the country's second largest – employs 3,000 researchers and has an annual research income of about 90m.
A university spokeswoman said it did not envisage compulsory redundancies. "We are confident the required reductions will be achieved by a combination of natural wastage, early retirement, voluntary severance and redeployment."
The university is the latest in a growing list preparing for cuts. Liverpool, Bristol and Liverpool John Moores universities have announced job cuts, department closures and the scrapping of dozens of courses.
Leeds's two university vice chancellors are among the best paid in the country. Leeds Met's former boss Simon Lee, controversially replaced earlier this year, earned 276,000 in 2008, including benefits. It was a rise of 6.2 per cent and put him 12th out of 156 vice-chancellors. University of Leeds's Michael Arthur received 244,000 – up 9.9 per cent – putting him in 20th.
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
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