{"id":687,"date":"2026-03-31T11:26:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/vice-chancellor\/?p=687"},"modified":"2026-05-11T13:35:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:35:03","slug":"from-the-vice-chancellor-march-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/vice-chancellor\/2026\/03\/31\/from-the-vice-chancellor-march-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Vice-Chancellor \u2013 March 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Close-up<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In my March newsletter: University finances, the QS World University Rankings by Subject, BUCS Big Wednesday, nominations for University awards, and Fellowships of the Academy of Social Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An update on the financial landscape<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At General Assembly on 4 March, I gave an overview of the financial landscape, and the implications of some of the pressures that are impacting, or are likely to impact, Loughborough and the higher education sector as a whole, both now and in the future. This was followed up yesterday with a staff forum, hosted by the Chief Operating Officer, Richard Taylor, aimed primarily at Professional Services staff, to provide a further overview of the measures we\u2019re taking to try to ensure our long-term sustainability. A summary of the discussion is available online<\/a> for those who could not attend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our immediate focus is to deliver savings\u202fof around \u00a38m required\u202ffor the next\u202ffinancial year in a carefully considered and targeted way. Let me reiterate what we have previously said: there will not be a university-wide compulsory redundancy scheme. We will look to make savings through a reduction in non-pay budgets, permanent removal of existing vacancies, and very limited, targeted proposals for redundancy across the Professional Services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have always managed, and will continue to manage, our finances prudently and responsibly and, as a result, we\u202fhave so far been able to avoid some of the difficult challenges being felt by others in the sector.\u202fBut the higher education sector is facing a level of financial pressure we have not experienced before. We are operating in a new global environment: with fewer overseas students looking to study in the UK and tighter government immigration policies, the international\u202fstudent recruitment market has shifted significantly. We must make changes to the way we operate and that will stand us in good stead for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know this is difficult\u202fnews and may be unsettling. Our priority is to handle the process as respectfully and transparently as possible. We will endeavour to keep you updated as this work progresses and make sure you have opportunities to ask questions.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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