Staff at the University of Nottingham have announced a two-month strike in response to proposed job cuts and course closures, marking the latest phase in ongoing industrial action following a previous marking boycott earlier this year. The strike is set to begin with two initial days of action tomorrow and Thursday, coinciding with a key university council meeting where the final business case for the planned cuts will be reviewed. Continuous strike action is scheduled to run from October 5 until December 11.

The university is facing an £85 million deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year, driven in part by a financial write-down on an investment in a new campus development, which it is now seeking to sell. In an effort to address this shortfall, nearly 2,700 staff members have been placed at risk of redundancy, and the institution plans to close close to 50 courses, including programs in music, languages, and nursing.

The University and College Union (UCU), representing the staff, has highlighted the scale and duration of the strike as a response to the significant cuts affecting employees and academic offerings. The previous marking boycott earlier this year disrupted the assessment process, resulting in students receiving estimated degree classifications.

The university has emphasized its ongoing engagement with trade union representatives and stated that measures are being implemented to minimize disruption to students and academic activities during the industrial action. Discussions between the university administration and union officials are reportedly continuing as the institution seeks to advance its financial recovery plan while managing the impact on staff and the academic community.