The University of Aberdeen will continue pursuing plans to transition from a 12 school structure to a four faculty model after the plan gained the approval of University Court.
Senior management hopes the change will save money, but some academics have expressed concerns over the plans.
One lecturer previously told The Gaudie that supposed plans to merge politics and economics schools means “a lack of coherence in programmes and structures”.
Another lecturer previously said, “Merging departments might mean one overarching introductory course, which would negatively impact students’ experiences and their employment prospects.”
It is understood that Senate, the university’s academic decision-making body, will vote on the four faculty plan before it is implemented.
Court also deferred a decision on approving minimum student-staff ratios at their meeting yesterday.
The minimum student threshold plans would likely cause job losses, with staff on strike over job security concerns.
Academics gathered outside the Sir Duncan Rice Library on Wednesday morning as Court members arrived to rule on the university’s future.
An open letter to Court had also warned against the plans, calling for a more “community-minded” approach.
Under the purported Adapting for Continued Success programme, senior management had put forward plans for minimum student number thresholds.
Proposals include a minimum of 10 students on all programmes, 20+ students per staff member in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) courses, and 25+ students per staff member in SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) courses.
While student-staff ratio threshold plans remain on hold and Court backs a four-faculty model, the university has already made cuts, with student recruitment to 21 PhD courses stopped.
A University of Aberdeen spokesperson said, “We have paused recruitment on Postgraduate Taught programmes which consistently attracted small numbers of students.
“Following extensive discussions on our transformative Adapting for Continued Success programme, our governing body Court approved the first stage of measures to help reposition the University and further tackle its deficit.
“A proposal to move to a four-faculty structure was strongly endorsed by Court and will now progress through appropriate governance processes.
“Following Court’s approval on the faculties, we will now follow our established governance process which includes sharing the ‘resolution’ with our community, Senate and our General Council for comment and final consideration of the resolution at the meeting of Court on 24 June.
“Proposals relating to future staffing budgets – informed by student:staff ratios – will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of Court.
“Court recognised that to provide time for further discussion and an ultimate decision being taken on proposals relating to future staffing budgets – informed by student:staff ratios – it would reconvene at the earliest opportunity.”
Staff have told The Gaudie they remain concerned for their jobs, with University and College Union Aberdeen members on strike until Friday.
