Jobs could be lost as a Welsh university and college look to save millions of pounds.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and Coleg Sir Gâr are in talks with unions as both look to make huge savings, and are inviting applications for voluntary redundancies.
Neither institution has put on a figure on how many jobs might be at risk.
UWTSD, which has campuses in Lampeter , Carmarthen , Swansea , and Cardiff , said it was looking at its academic structure across all its centres, as well as the curruiculum and number of programmes offered, in addition to general staffing levels, in order to reduce operating costs by £6.5 million.
And Coleg Sir Gâr, which has seven campuses across Llanelli , Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llandeilo , said it was looking to make savings of £1.8million.
Margaret Phelan, Wales official with the University and College Union (UCU) which represents more than 120,000 academics, lecturers, researchers and other staff across the UK said: “We have been in consultation with UWTSD and we are just starting discussions with Coleg Sir Gâr.
“The figures at UWTSD have yet to be finalised, negotiations are still ongoing. In Sir Gâr they have not indicated the potential numbers of redundancies.
“We are obviously trying to minimise the impact of any job losses, and our advice to members would be to fully engage with their employer during the consultation process.”
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Last year, UWTSD opened a new £350 million campus at the SA1 Swansea Waterfront, with staff and students relocating from the city centre Townhill and Mount Pleasant campuses.
But it said it had reviewed its staffing levels to ensure they were ‘more aligned with the sector norm’.
Earlier this year UWTSD opened a voluntary redundancy scheme to staff and confirmed it had received a number of applications.
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A spokesman added: “As part of its ongoing strategy of consolidation and future proofing the strategic mission of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), the University Council has decided to launch a series of initiatives to strengthen the distinctiveness of the UWTSD dual sector offer, better contribute to Wales’ economic and societal challenges and secure its future resilience as it continues to serve the needs of its learners and stakeholders.
“To that end, the university is reviewing its current structures and reorganising its academic work in order to be in the best position to capitalise upon new opportunities, respond to an ever challenging higher education landscape and continue to deliver a sustainable context for growth.
“This work has the potential to reduce operating costs by £6.5 million ensuring that the university has the flexibility and resilience to make a significant contribution to the future economic, cultural and civic mission of Wales.
"University officers have been meeting with representatives of its recognised trades unions for the past few months to discuss each stage of its proposals.”
She added that the university was seeking to minimise the need for compulsory redundancies where possible.
Coleg Sir Gâr employs around one thousand staff and has 12,000 full and part-time students.
It too said it was working with unions on implementing a voluntary redundancy scheme, in order to ‘develop more efficient and cost effective ways of working and targeting alternative sources of income’.
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A spokesman said it hoped to protect its full time courses, particularly those aimed at 16-19-year-old school leavers, and as wide a range of apprenticeship programmes and full and part time higher education courses as possible.
Coleg Sir Gâr principal Dr Andrew Cornish, stated: “In facing this challenge, the college’s top priority will be to continue to offer outstanding post-16 education and training and wherever possible to minimise job losses.
“I can assure our learners that we will do everything in our power to ensure they are not affected by this announcement and that those starting with us in September can look forward to an excellent educational experience in line with our strategy.”
