Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is facing criticism after launching a voluntary redundancy scheme just days after it unveiled plans to open a new campus in India in 2026.
The university first announced its intention to cut 270 jobs through a voluntary redundancy scheme back in October, however, the scheme officially opened to staff members on Monday.
QUB has said that “there will be no compulsory redundancies as part of the scheme” but added that it is one of “several actions to manage costs in response to financial challenges” facing the higher education sector.
More: Queen’s University Belfast to axe up to 270 jobs
In a statement, the university said: “Northern Ireland universities face an additional challenge as numbers of home students are limited by the Maximum Student Number (MaSN) cap, and the income for teaching home students does not cover the whole cost of teaching, creating a deficit.
“In previous years, we have balanced this through income from our international students.
“However, there has been a sharp decline in the number of international students seeking to come to the UK. This has impacted on university income, and Queen’s is no exception.”
The launch of the redundancy scheme follows an announcement that Queen’s is set to open a new campus in GIFT City in India in time to welcome students next January.
QUB said that the campus will “help reinforce partnerships and opportunities for innovation with local industry, government and business sectors across India and Northern Ireland”.
The campus will initially offer five postgraduate programmes which are to be “tailored to the specific needs of the Indian economy”.
ANNOUNCEMENT: EMERGENCY GENERAL MEETING - 6th February 11am
— UCU at Queen's (@ucuatqub) February 3, 2025
Members will have seen that the University is launching a Voluntary Severance Scheme (VSS), after announcing a new Indian campus, while budgets for faculties, schools and directorates have all been slashed. (1/4)
With plans for recruitment underway at the new campus, the University and College Union (UCU) has criticised the move to cut jobs in Belfast.
Speaking to the BBC, UCU General Secretary Jo Grady said: “It is scandalous that QUB is putting massive amounts of money into a new campus halfway round the world all the while axing jobs in Belfast.”
UCU added that it is “deeply concerned” about the “workload impact” the voluntary redundancies could have on staff wellbeing and student experience.
They are holding an emergency general meeting to discuss a branch response on Thursday, which could include a “formal industrial dispute”.
