Up to a dozen staff at Aberdeen University’s medical school will be laid off in an attempt to save the institution £1.5 million.
Staff at the university’s School of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition were invited to take part in voluntary severance and early retirement schemes in July.
But late last month the initiatives drew to a close, and with not enough employees taking up the offer, the university has been forced to place 24 posts at risk of redundancy.
A spokesman for the university said the institution is doing all it can to limit job losses and is in consultations with trade unions, but warned that up to 12 staff will be let go.
He said: “The school employs nearly 900 staff and 23 posts were placed at risk of redundancy, which equates to less than 1.2% of staff in the school.
“However, all steps are being taken to mitigate the redundancies and we currently anticipate fewer than 12 posts will be lost.
“This process is part of a strategy to enable the institution to concentrate on its strengths, so that it continues to attract research funding and make discoveries which improve medical care.”
Andrew Mackillop, from the University and College Union, said: “While UCU accepts that there are substantial challenges facing the University of Aberdeen and indeed the higher education sector more generally, it does not accept that job losses are required.
“The latest available figures point to a £2million surplus for the university from 2015 to 2016.
“Under these circumstances there is no justification at all in seeking to cut jobs in the School of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition.”
Chubba Anucha, the president of the Aberdeen University Student Association said the cuts will have a severe impact on the institution’s reputation.
He said: “It is absurd to cut such large numbers of academic staff and expect this will not have an impact on the education experience of students.
“It is disappointing that the university’s priorities appear to be financial surplus rather than teaching and learning.
“As an undergraduate I opted to study at the University of Aberdeen because of the excellent reputation of the School of Medicine, Medical Science and Nutrition and it worries me that this may no longer be the case.”
