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Glasgow University to cut staff over decline in international students

News imageBBC An exterior view of the University of Glasgow building on a sunny dayBBC
The University of Glasgow is to seek voluntary redundancies

The University of Glasgow has opened a voluntary redundancy scheme over declining numbers of international students.

Principal Prof Andy Schofield said the financial environment was "becoming increasingly challenging" for universities.

He said a drop in international postgraduate students had been forecast and a new budget approved by the university would help secure its long-term future.

The voluntary severance scheme was announced in an email to staff, and is expected to be launched in August.

Schofield said the budget, approved by the University Court, was "aimed at maintaining a small underlying financial surplus".

He added: "Inevitably, this will have implications for the size of our workforce, affecting both academic and professional services roles."

A University of Glasgow spokesperson said: "The university's governing body has approved a budget aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of the institution.

"It has been agreed that a number of cost reduction measures should be introduced, including the launch of a voluntary severance scheme.

"The university will provide regular updates for colleagues and will do everything possible to safeguard the wellbeing of everyone across our community."

News imagePA Media An exterior view of the University of Edinburgh's Old College building on a sunny day. PA Media
The University of Edinburgh has also been cost-cutting

It comes as a number of other universities around the country have been experiencing financial challenges, with industrial action taking place at some over proposed cuts.

The University of Aberdeen approved a three-year plan earlier this week which will see it move ahead with restructuring its 12 academic schools into four faculties.

That announcement came after a £10m savings plan - which could see more than 100 jobs lost - was agreed last month.

The University of Edinburgh announced it was to seek £140m in cuts to tackle financial difficulties in February last year, while the Scottish government bailed out Dundee University with £40m of emergency funding to help it through a financial crisis.

Strikes over cost-cutting have also taken place at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and the University of Strathclyde announced plans to cut 70 jobs in December.