Bleak winter for staff at Reading and Hull universities

The University of Reading has announced that it will launch a voluntary redundancy scheme in the new year, while the University of Hull is reviewing its humanities provision.

In an email sent to all staff on 10 December, acting vice-chancellor of the University of Reading Robert Van de Noort said a “forthcoming reshaping of the university” would require a “careful balance of financial return in the short and medium term with continued investment in people, systems and infrastructure that allow us to grow a and flourish”.

School and departments have submitted “financial plans for the 2019-20 financial year and beyond”, he said, which are the institution’s “primary means to address financial pressures”. However, he added that voluntary redundancy “is one option being offered to help schools and functions to achieve financial balance”.