More than 100 jobs at risk at Bangor University

Feb 3 2010

Bangor University

POLITICIANS and councillors are calling on the government to reverse their decision to cut funding to Universities and Higher Education after it was revealed Bangor University faces heavy cuts and is considering closing four departments.

More than 100 jobs at the university could be under threat in departments including religious studies, linguistics, social sciences and modern languages in a scheme drawn up as the university tries to cope with a funding shortfall.

Funding for the university – one of the city’s largest employers – has been cut by £840,000 to £32.1m from the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) for the coming financial year.

Sarah Green, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Arfon, said: "The university is Bangor’s main employer so these proposals would have serious effects on the local economy and the consequences of job losses would be felt by everyone.

"Cutting funding in higher education is also short sighted as we rely on students to become the future leaders, innovators and growth drivers of the economy.

"This is in effect a false economy ."

Cllr Keith Marshall said: "This area is already suffering from the effects of job losses, which are particularly serious in Ynys Môn but also affect Bangor.

"I am appalled at the prospect of more local people being made redundant."

Local campaigner, Mohammed Shultan said: "Local businesses are struggling to keep afloat in the recession and they rely very heavily on students to spend money in shops and restaurants.

"If departments close and there are fewer students, this will certainly have an impact on Bangor High Street."

The local Liberal Democrats are writing a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, deploring the government’s decision to spend public money on supporting bankers and paying their bonuses, while cutting funding for higher education.

Dylan Rees, Plaid Cymru candidate for Ynys Môn, is to take up concerns expressed to him by Bangor University staff.

"Many university staff members live on the island and a deputation came to see me about the proposed academic re- structuring proposals being discussed by the university" he said.

"I am particularly concerned about the loss of courses taught through the medium of Welsh, particularly as Welsh medium schools are flourishing."

An university spokesman said no decision would be made until a new vice- chancellor takes up his post later this year.

Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones AM said: "I can well understand the economic pressures that the university is under, and why a range of savings have to be considered.

"But I urge the authorities to do all they can to preserve departments that have provided an invaluable service over the years and can continue to do so in future.

"We must also ensure that the university is in a position to benefit from the establishment of the new Welsh- medium federal college, where some of the departments concerned have an unrivalled expertise and have a key role to play in this exciting development."