Jobs set to go as business school ‘disestablishes’ professoriate

A UK business school’s plan to “disestablish” the professoriate could see all its senior researchers lose their roles, staff said.

The University of Salford, which reported a £28.9 million deficit for 2018-19, confirmed that “consultation is ongoing” with eight professors in its business school following the development of a “newly focused research strategy”. The school’s website lists nine serving professors, although one holds the role of associate dean for research and innovation.

Paul Maggs, the University and College Union branch secretary at Salford, said members were “shocked and demoralised”.

“We are deeply concerned that our employer has chosen to disestablish and decimate the professoriate in the school, towards the latter end of the REF [research excellence framework] 2021 cycle, placing a huge amount of stress and anxiety on academic staff preparing for REF submissions,” Mr Maggs said.

Submissions for the REF are already open, ahead of the November 2020 deadline. Significantly, even if professors are made redundant, Salford will still be able to submit their work for assessment under new rules.

Mr Maggs warned that the cuts would “further undermine the diversity of our academic workforce” and would increase pressure on the researchers who remain.

“We have informed our employer that our members’ mental health is at serious risk due to excessive and unmanageable workloads, including research,” he said. “The decision to disestablish professorial roles at such a difficult time serves only to increase this, with the loss of such a large number of highly experienced and respected professors.”

Salford Business School’s website lists 83 members of academic staff, of whom two are emeritus. The university’s deficit – which came after a £7.2 million surplus the previous year – is largely attributable to the revaluation of the Universities Superannuation Scheme pension fund and is expected to be reversed by a further revaluation.

A Salford spokeswoman said: “Salford Business School has developed a newly focused research strategy that aligns to the university’s industry collaboration priorities.

“As part of the implementation of the new research strategy, consultation is ongoing with eight of the professors within the business school. It would not be appropriate for the university to comment further as the consultation process is ongoing.”

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com