University and college staff face axe

Up to 30 jobs are to go at Dudley College and staffing levels are being reviewed at Wolverhampton University, it emerged today.

The news comes as it was revealed almost 6,000 jobs are under threat at recession-hit institutions across the country.

The West Midlands is facing 403 university and college job losses in a move that would affect more than 7,000 students. The University and College Union today warned the figures could just be "the tip of the iceberg".

Most of the jobs at risk in the region, 256 in total, are at colleges while 147 are under threat in universities.

Officials from Dudley College said the number of jobs lost would be between 15 and 30. They said a business plan drawn up to ensure the college achieved a 'break even' budget for 2009/10 had included the removal of 30 posts as a cost-cutting measure. The University of Wolverhampton said it was reviewing its staffing levels but would not comment further.

A total of 76 job losses have been earmarked for City College Birmingham, 18 at Aston University and 37 compulsory redundancies at Coventry University.

The City of Wolverhampton College has no plans for job cuts and has actually increased staffing numbers by more than 20. Vice principal for finance and resources Paul Polowyj said: "We are not planning to make any compulsory redundancies in the near future."

South Staffordshire College, including Tamworth, Lichfield, Cannock and Stafford campuses, and Rodbaston College in Penkridge, have no plans to make any redundancies.