University of Sheffield International College staff to strike

Staff members at the University of Sheffield International College (USIC) have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action, the University and College Union has announced. 

The news comes after the provider, which offers foundation and pre-master’s courses to international students who want to progress on to studies at the University of Sheffield, announced 36 staff had been put at risk of redundancy by April.

In total, 100 per cent of staff members who participated in a ballot voted in favour of strike action, on a turnout of 72 per cent. While USIC is run by the private company Study Group, it recently signed a new 10-year contract with the University of Sheffield, and is located within the university. 

The provider has claimed that the cuts are necessary due to a fall in student recruitment this academic year, which it said has hit the company’s finances. However, it also described the situation as a “short-term gap”, in communications sent to staff.

Sam Morecroft, USIC UCU branch chair, said that the industrial action will take place unless USIC “removes the threat of compulsory redundancies”. 

“It is clear these redundancies have nothing to do with falling student numbers and everything to do with an attempt to force an untested standardised operating model on our college, which will increase staff workload and reduce the quality of academic and pastoral support our students receive,” he said. 

“Study Group now needs to begin meaningful negotiations and look at other cost-saving measures to close what it says is only a short-term financial gap.”

The announcement follows other job cuts in the region, with the University of Sheffield facing a backlash over its review of its East Asian languages provision, which could put jobs at risk.

The UK saw its number of applications from international students for UK visas down 14 per cent in 2024 year-on-year, after the former Conservative government’s ban on dependants reduced interest in the country’s higher education sector. 

A Study Group spokesperson said: “Like many universities and higher education providers, we need to adapt our staffing to recent changes in international recruitment and regrettably at Sheffield this sometimes means reducing staff numbers.

“We very much regret UCU members at Sheffield International College have made this decision, especially after months of active engagement to try to avoid such an outcome, to a point where compulsory redundancies have been minimised.

“We will however ensure that any strike action minimises impact on our students and their education.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com