Overview

• Edinburgh University has completed a voluntary severance scheme, with around 350 staff departing to address a £140 million budget deficit.
• The severance program is expected to save the university approximately £18 million annually, but additional cost reductions are still being evaluated.
• Further measures under consideration include hiring freezes, a pause on academic promotions, and broader operational cost reviews.
• Both the University and College Union (UCU) and Unison are balloting members for potential strike action in response to the financial measures.
• A government-backed task force has convened to explore future funding frameworks and provide coordinated support for Scotland's higher education sector.