WARWICK SMITH/Stuff
Pro vice-chancellor of the college of sciences Ray Geor says feedback about the proposal for change was carefully considered.
Massey University has gone ahead with a restructure that will make huge changes to its college of sciences, cutting jobs and courses.
The university has forecast a $53 million loss for the year and has been looking at ways to cut costs.
One was a proposal for change for the college of sciences and the final decision was released on Thursday, confirming major changes would be made.
Engineering, supply chain management and quality systems courses will close, while food technology and biological sciences will be consolidated on the Manawatū campus.
This will drastically reduce the number of science staff at the university’s Albany campus.
When a preliminary decision was released last month, the number of jobs that would be cut had decreased from 107 full-time equivalent staff members to 67.
Pro vice-chancellor of the college of sciences Ray Geor said the proposal-for-change process involved careful consideration of feedback during two consultation periods. Implementation starts from Friday and will go into next year.
Geor said the information was released on Thursday to provide certainty ahead of the 2024 academic year.
Warwick Smith/STUFF
Student and union members held a protest at Massey University against proposed cuts to courses. (First published October 19).
Tertiary Education Union organiser Ben Schmidt said he was devastated and disappointed to see the university had gone ahead with cuts that would “axe over 60 science jobs”.
“That is going to have an impact, not only on university research and teaching, but on the wider science community to progress science, research and innovation.
“More than ever we need the vice-chancellor [Jan Thomas] to stop these short-sighted, unnecessary job cuts.
“This demonstrates the need for improved and more sustainable funding for the tertiary sector.”
He said union members were disappointed and angry about the final decision, but many were still working their way through the large document. The union would be talking to members about what to do next.
Staff whose positions would be disestablished received their notice on Thursday, Schmidt said.
DAVID UNWIN/Stuff
Tertiary Education Union organiser Ben Schmidt is disappointed the university has gone ahead with cuts.
With food technology being consolidated to Manawatū, Geor said the university would maintain its flagship food technology and honours programme in its specialisations: food process engineering and food product technology.
With biological sciences also being consolidated, the research and teaching in chemistry, zoology, molecular cell biology and ecology and conservation will be centred in Palmerston North.
Plant science and post-harvest technology will be integrated with horticulture in the school of agriculture and environment.
Geor said all students would be assisted to finish their qualifications, either through teaching out the qualification, a transfer within Massey, or to another New Zealand institution.
“The college of sciences is proud of its contributions to capability and knowledge development across a breadth of science subjects.
“The changes arising from the final decision of the change proposal will allow the college to build on its world-class teaching and research in areas of critical importance to New Zealand and beyond, while also addressing challenging financial circumstances faced by the college and university.
“We acknowledge this will be a challenging time for staff and are providing support to those impacted.”
