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SEVENTEEN staff from Stirling University’s Institute of Aquaculture face compulsory redundancy following a decision yesterday by the University Court.
The Court, the University's supreme governing body, analogous to a Board of Directors or a Board of Trustees, accepted management proposals to cut around one-third of staff at the Institute of Aquaculture.
The compulsory redundancies follow the loss of around 12 staff over the last eighteen months through voluntary severance.
The Institute was amalgamated into the newly created School of Natural Sciences at the start of the year – the University is currently recruiting a Head of School.
A spokesperson for the staff said: “University Court considered tabled papers today for barely 45 minutes and then simply rubber-stamped the ridiculous, unfair and unjustified proposals put forward by an ill-informed management after a highly dubious 'consultation' process. Is it consultation when one side does not listen AT ALL?
“Seventeen staff will be made compulsorily redundant (10 support, 7 academic). It is highly likely that most dismissals will be appealed at significant cost to the University and its reputation.”
Institute staff were called to a meeting after the Court meeting with the interim Head of School, Professor Ian Simpson from the Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences who told them that individual staff can expect to be informed whether their posts are scheduled for redundancy later this week.
A University spokeswoman said: “The University of Stirling has taken action to secure a strong and sustainable future for the Institute of Aquaculture, following a comprehensive review of its operations.
“During this detailed review and consultation process, which lasted several months, the University identified operational savings and enhanced income generation that reduced the Institute’s original recurring deficit of over £2 million to £1.4 million.
“However, in the face of continued financial losses at the Institute and the remaining £1.4 million deficit, the University has taken the difficult decision to cut 17 staff posts from a total complement of 69. The staff whose posts are being made redundant include academic and support staff working at the Institute’s base in Stirling.
“The decision will not affect the provision of core services, or student supervision, and all four of the Institute’s key research groups have been retained.
“This action will ensure the Institute remains the leading international centre in its field, by focusing on its core research activities and enhancing the Institute’s ability to grow its income and sustain its global reach.”
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