Student protest over job cuts

Almost 25,000 students study at the university colleges

More than 200 students mounted a noisy protest outside one of England's oldest universities over planned job cuts.

Durham University is planning a major overhaul of its academic departments.

Some area will get extra cash, but students and staff have reacted angrily to proposals which will see some departments axed, along with almost 40 jobs.

Two departments - East Asian Studies and Linguistics - are due to be phased out altogether, and up to 40 teaching jobs will go over a four-year period.

On Tuesday students held a protest outside the Senate building as university bosses agreed the plan.

The university, which has almost 25,000 students, has defended the plans, which it says will see about £9m invested over the four years.

A spokesman said: "These developments have been talked about for 18 months.

'No bad departments'

"Both departments concerned and those individuals have had the opportunity to influence the way academic plans have been prepared.

"We need to make changes because of the changing financial environment throughout higher education.

"Durham is only one of many universities that are having to look at this and looking at what we can do best.

"There are no bad departments at Durham, but some are in a stronger position to sustain their excellence and world competitiveness better than others."

Don Starr, head of the closure-threatened Asian Studies department said: "The figures on which the university has based its decision are wrong.

"However, I don't think they will listen to what we have to say."

A final decision on the plans is to be taken next month at a meeting of the University Council.