Cardiff University has announced plans to cut 400 full-time jobs, a move that has raised alarms regarding the potential impact on the supply of nurses in Wales, particularly in light of ongoing staff shortages in the healthcare sector. The proposed cuts come amid a funding shortfall that has led to course closures and department mergers, with nursing, music, and modern languages among the subjects facing the most significant reductions. The decision has drawn criticism from union leaders, academics, and students alike, all expressing concern about the consequences for education and the wider community.
Helen Whyley, the executive director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales, voiced her worries about the proposed job cuts, particularly the potential disruption to the pipeline of new nurses entering Welsh health boards. In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, Whyley explained that Cardiff University plays a crucial role in delivering nursing education to South Wales and is one of the largest providers of nursing students in the region. “At a time where we have a significant number of nursing vacancies, it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out the students that come through Cardiff University are a very important contribution into that pipeline,” she said.
The cuts, which also affect other key academic areas such as modern languages and music, have sparked anxiety among students. Fflur James, a second-year student studying French and Welsh, expressed her concerns about the uncertainty surrounding her course. “The uncertainty is the biggest thing and the thing that worries me,” James said, explaining that she had only learned about the potential closure of her department through the news. Her worries about the potential loss of valuable expertise and learning opportunities reflect a broader sense of unease among students across various affected courses.
Lecturers at Cardiff University have begun receiving formal letters informing them that their positions are at risk, with the university offering links to support services. While the university has emphasized that compulsory redundancies will be made only if absolutely necessary, the proposed cuts are nonetheless causing significant disruption within the institution.
The proposals are particularly concerning for those in the nursing sector, where hospitals across Wales are already facing a shortage of approximately 2,000 nurses. Although the number of vacancies has been slightly reduced in recent months, many Welsh hospitals remain under significant pressure. According to Whyley, the cuts to the nursing program at Cardiff University could further exacerbate this issue by reducing the number of qualified nurses entering the workforce in the coming years. “Hospitals are still in a very difficult position,” she said.
The planned cuts are part of a wider trend in higher education, with universities across the UK grappling with financial challenges and increased cost pressures. Cardiff University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner, stated that the university had no choice but to implement drastic reforms in order to secure its future. The university has pointed to declining international student applications and a “broken” funding system as contributing factors to its financial struggles. “The role cuts are only proposals, but we have to make difficult decisions,” Larner explained, adding that most UK universities are facing similar challenges.
The proposed job cuts at Cardiff University are not an isolated case. Swansea University, for example, has already announced plans to make £30 million in savings by the 2026/27 financial year, despite having seen over 300 staff members leave since September 2023. In contrast to Cardiff University, however, Swansea University has managed to avoid compulsory redundancies by relying on voluntary redundancies and vacancy management.
In the political arena, the news of Cardiff’s job cuts has prompted strong reactions from local politicians. Natasha Asghar, the Tory education spokesperson, expressed alarm at the potential impact of the cuts on nursing education. “Our Welsh NHS is on its knees and we are crying out for doctors and nurses, yet this decision will leave us worse off,” she said, urging the university to reconsider its plans. Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson, Cefin Campbell, also criticized the Welsh government for its lack of response to the proposed cuts. Campbell called on the Welsh government to explain what it knew about the university’s plans and urged Cardiff University to urgently rethink its proposals.
The Welsh government has expressed its disappointment at the inclusion of nursing courses in the proposed cuts, with a spokesperson stating that it is “working urgently” to ensure that the same number of nurses are trained in Wales. However, concerns remain about the long-term implications for nursing education in the region and the potential impact on the NHS workforce.
In response to the university’s decision, the Cardiff University Student Union issued a statement of solidarity with students and staff affected by the proposed cuts. “We want to express our unwavering support with all students, and solidarity to staff who may be impacted,” the statement read.
As Cardiff University moves forward with its proposed job cuts, the future of its nursing program, as well as other affected courses, remains uncertain. While the university has emphasized that the proposals are still in the consultation phase, the decision to cut such a significant number of jobs has already raised serious questions about the sustainability of the higher education system in Wales and the broader UK. With hospitals in Wales still facing a significant nursing shortage, the potential loss of Cardiff University’s nursing program could have lasting consequences for the region’s healthcare system.
