Staff at the University of Hull have been told there are ‘no plans’ for further organisational changes amid continuing financial pressures in the higher education sector.
The university is currently looking to make £23 million worth of savings over the next two years and has recently completed a voluntary exit scheme for staff.
The cost savings come after the closure of the chemistry department last year, sparking fears further job losses could be planned. A letter from 15 staff to the Hull Daily Mail said: “There are a number of staff that are very worried at the way, internally, how the University of Hull is heading.”
University leaders have already found savings of £20.2m and are working to save a further £2.8 million by the end of the academic year in 2026 through tighter cost controls and vacancy management.
Hull Live understands no staff were ‘at risk’ due to the voluntary exit scheme and there are no plans for further organisational change.
A spokesperson said: “In common with all universities, we continue to navigate the significant financial pressures impacting the higher education sector.
“We are carefully balancing our ambitions for growth with the need for responsible financial management, including making prudent choices to ensure that our expenditure is in line with our expected income.”
“The recently concluded voluntary exit scheme was introduced as a response to current challenges. Participation was entirely voluntary, and there are no plans for further organisational changes at this time
“These measures help us respond to the current environment, minimising as far as possible the impact on our staff, whilst enabling us to deliver our plans to grow and enhance the positive impact we have on our students and on society, both in the region and globally.”
The university has also confirmed the sale of former student accommodation at The Lawns complex, including Ferens Hall, in Cottingham, three-and-a-half miles, from Hull city centre.
The former Second World War army camp, which housed American soldiers, was turned into halls of residence for students in the 1960s but has not been used since 2019 due to the shift in demand for on-campus accommodation.
Two years ago, following concerns raised in the community over plans to house asylum seekers there, the university said the properties would not be sold to the Home Office or to any organisation planning to create accommodation for the Government department.
The properties are currently on the market and are being by Savills.
A spokesman said: “The decision to sell some properties is prudent estate management. These properties have been unused for several years.
“We are committed to creating a vibrant, high-quality campus that meets the needs of our university community. This includes enhancing and maintaining the spaces that support teaching, learning, and research, while also managing resources
carefully.”
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