Ghent University is looking to reduce its workforce by 120 employees within the next four years, Belga News Agency reports. Trade unions, however, say the number of staff cut will be closer to 250.
An internal memo from the university confirmed their plans to lose 120 employees by 2027. The staff should all come from the university's central administration, which currently employs 800 people.
However, the university's rector Rik Van de Walle stressed that the institution wants to keep redundancies to a minimum. "We are convinced that the bulk of staff reductions can be achieved through natural departures, such as pensions, or people who voluntarily want to leave the organisation," he explained.
"The number of staff who have to leave the university against their will will surely be lower" Van de Walle hopes, promising staff that they will be informed of further changes in September.
The change should save the university €30 million and will be accompanied by a large-scale review of Ghent University’s structure due to be approved at a board meeting next week.
