University plans to cut 46 jobs

Lampeter University is facing a £2m deficit

Nearly 50 jobs are under threat at a mid Wales university.

Staff at Lampeter have feared for the their jobs for some time, but university officials said the planned cuts were a response to a £2m deficit.

They believe the only way to solve the financial problems is to reduce the wage bill and make 46 staff redundant.

The university, which employs 300, has agreed to merge with Trinity College Carmarthen, and is set to be renamed University of Wales: Trinity St David.

Lampeter blamed the redundancies, in part, on a £1.2m funding cut from the Higher Education Funding Council.

It said the jobs under threat were across the academic and lecturer support sectors.

If we do not make difficult decisions now, many more jobs and even the university itself could be lost in the next few years Dr Medwin Hughes, university vice-chancellor

University vice-chancellor Dr Medwin Hughes said: "The scale of the deficit means we have to consider changes, which, reluctantly, includes a reduction in staff numbers.

"If we do not make difficult decisions now, many more jobs and even the university itself could be lost in the next few years.

"We have to ensure the university is financially viable and unfortunately, with a budget deficit of £2m for 2009/2010, the current structure is not sustainable in the longer term.

"The priority now is to preserve as many academic and support roles as possible for the long-term and to ensure a bright future for the university.

"We have fully explored all other avenues to increase revenue and reduce costs, but it is clear that the magnitude of the deficit means we are unable to address it without reducing staff costs."

In July last year, Lampeter university threatened redundancies because of a significant rise in pay costs.

Lecturers and support staff staged a demonstration.

The latest planned redundancies are seen as a bitter blow in an area where well paid high, skilled jobs are few.

Meetings have been held with staff and the unions on Wednesday morning - a 90-day consultation process will now begin.

A spokesman for the University and College Union said: "The institution needs to make a clear and public case for any job losses.

"In tough economic times we need to be doing everything we can to help education and seeking to cut your way out of trouble is in non-one's interests."

Lampeter is one of the oldest degree-awarding institution in the UK.

Formed in 1822 by the Bishop of St David's, it is one of the smaller universities in Europe with a total student population of fewerthan 9,000.