Job cuts ahead for Southern Cross University

AS MANY as 15 people are to be made redundant at Southern Cross University because of "a softening in the international student market and increased budget pressures."

Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Lee said the job cuts would primarily be in support positions such as IT and administration and not to frontline teaching positions.

"All universities are facing tight fiscal times and we have also had to make some difficult decisions. We have kept the number of redundancies to a minimum and are now working through this process with staff to ensure we meet all our obligations," he said.

The Echo has also been told that people on fixed term contracts, some who have been on contracts for many years, are not having their contracts renewed.

NTEU branch president Kate Mitchell said the university was "obviously in trouble" with all schools being asked to reign in the budgets by 6%. She said they were "anticipating more of the same" next year.