Friday 31-01-2025 - 15:21

Durham University this week announced cuts of tens of millions of pounds to its annual budget. The Vice-Chancellor says that these cuts are unavoidable and are necessary because of government policy which has increased costs and reduced international student fee income. All universities face these conditions. Durham is in a better financial position than most others, but ‘better’ does not mean ‘good’.

This news represents the beginning of a deeply uncertain period for everyone across the University, but particularly for staff. They are members of our community without whom this university could not run. It is important we all respect the anxiety of the circumstances they are facing, approach them with empathy, and support them.

As Student Officers, we believe there is a consensus on student priorities: excellent teaching, effective student support, preservation of the collegiate model, and breaking down barriers to access and participation at Durham. We have not laid out these priorities because we support the cuts. We do not. Nor have we done it because other things don’t matter and can afford to be cut. Bluntly, we've laid out these priorities because cuts are coming, they will impact the student experience, and we have limited opportunity to influence what matters most to us as a community. As President I will use my time with the Vice-Chancellor, the University Executive, and University Council, to make clear that students will not accept them failing to meet their obligations in the name of cost cutting.

I’ve been in dialogue with the Vice-Chancellor over the past couple of days about what these cuts mean for students. I need to ask you to trust me, and the Students’ Union, to fight your corner. I can’t make any promises, but we will do everything in our power as we always do to represent students. I’ll report back as much as I can about how the University is responding to these issues when I have something to share. We didn’t know these cuts were coming last week but, now we do, the student voice must be heard. Please feel free to get in touch with me, at su.president@durham.ac.uk to share your concerns.

Cuts may be unavoidable now, but we did not get here overnight. Durham SU has long argued that uncertainty, crisis, and cuts are intrinsic to marketised education. This announcement is further evidence of that. This system does not work for the people it professes to serve. Durham SU will continue to vehemently oppose the marketisation of education and will work with students and staff up and down the country to fight for a better system and reclaim their education.

 

The Bill Bryson Library has changed its opening hours approach  - read our response here.