UPDATE: Cardiff MPs’ Statement on Cardiff University

In early February, we issued a joint statement to our constituents and the wider community, setting out our position on Cardiff University’s proposed job cuts and structural changes.

We remain deeply concerned about the University’s proposals, particularly regarding the number and range of jobs at risk, the restructuring that will affect the university experience for students, and the wider knock-on effects these changes will have on our city and surrounding areas, and indeed the whole of Wales. We continue to urge the university to take all steps possible to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Since our initial meeting with the Vice Chancellor in the week of the announcement, we have continued to directly raise concerns with the University, and again met with the Vice Chancellor and other senior management recently.

We have also continued to meet with employees at risk, student representatives and trade unions, as well as the UK Government’s Higher Education Minister and members of the Welsh Government.

Whilst we are grateful for the engagement that we have had with the University leadership and appreciate the extremely challenging financial situation that they face, we are alarmed by the continued concerns being brought to our attention about some aspects of the consultation process, which has now passed the halfway stage.

As the Members of Parliament for Cardiff, we remain committed to working with all parties in the coming months to achieve the best possible outcome for staff, students, the University and the wider community.