Ulster University to cut up to 450 jobs amid funding pressures

Northern Ireland’s biggest university is to make around 450 staff redundant.

Ulster University, which has more than 30,000 students, employs 3,100 staff across its campuses in Belfast, Jordanstown, Coleraine and Londonderry.

Arnold Schwarzenegger stands with vice-chancellor of Ulster University Professor Paul Bartholomew (left) as he waits to receive an an honorary doctorate presented by the university in Belfast.

placeholder image — Arnold Schwarzenegger stands with vice-chancellor of Ulster University Professor Paul Bartholomew (left) as he waits to receive an an honorary doctorate presented by the university in Belfast.

On Wednesday, staff were briefed virtually about the proposed job cuts by the vice-chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew – it is understood the scheme is currently voluntary.

A university spokesperson said: “Redundancies across the higher education sector have become unavoidable.

“To date, more than 100 institutions across the UK have downsized their staffing complement.

“Ulster University has sought to hold off on making redundancies while continuing to work with the Department for the Economy, through their reviews, on possible changes to the HE (higher education) funding model in Northern Ireland.

“It has recently been made clear to us that a sustainable funding model is not going to be forthcoming, and regretfully we must now act to reduce our costs.”