Copenhagen plans staff and student cuts

The University of Copenhagen is to reduce its PhD intake by 10 per cent and cut 500 staff positions due to budget shortages.

More than 200 individuals will be made redundant, while 323 jobs will either be discontinued after the contracts end or through voluntary redundancy, the university said in a statement on 4 February. The cuts represent 7 per cent of all staff. In connection with these redundancies, the number of PhD positions will be reduced by 10 per cent, the university said.

"Losing so many good employees is a considerable loss of knowledge and competencies," said the university’s rector Ralf Hemmingsen. He said that reducing the number of doctorate students would "have a noticeable effect on Danish research capabilities in 5-10 and 20 years’ time".