黑料网

The 黑料网 is taking decisive steps towards a sustainable future by concentrating research and education on two campuses and reducing staff numbers to more closely match a lower student population.

As part of the plans the Southend Campus will close from summer 2026 with all courses moving across to the Colchester Campus. 

We will also begin a phased redundancy programme across the University, with the number of academic posts reducing by around 200 this academic year, and a reduction of approximately 200 professional service roles over the next two years.

These are exceptionally difficult and incredibly sad decisions to take, and we are mindful of the people behind these roles 鈥� who work tirelessly for our students 鈥� and the weight of what this will mean to them.

Southend has played an important part in the University鈥檚 story, but international student numbers at the campus have fallen by 52% since 2021-22.

Focusing our teaching, research and student services on fewer sites - at our campuses in Colchester and Loughton - will give our University a consolidated platform for the future and enable us to better respond to the significant financial challenges facing the whole UK higher education sector.

We expect around 800 additional students to choose to transfer to Colchester from Southend from September, enhancing the student experience at our Colchester Campus, with current and future Essex students able to more easily benefit from the full range of academic, social and cultural opportunities we offer on our much larger campus.

For students in Southend nothing will be changing immediately.

They will continue to study at the Southend Campus until the end of summer 2026.

We will be engaging with all students in Southend starting today and over the coming weeks to outline their options and offer support.

We hope that as many students as possible will choose to continue to study with us at our Colchester Campus from the next academic year 2026-27 and look forward to supporting them through this transition in their studies.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Frances Bowen, said: 鈥淭o provide the best environment for our students to flourish we must deliver our mission in a different way.

鈥淭his not only means having to operate more efficiently and reduce our costs but also focusing on our strengths and delivering a student experience across the whole university that matches the investment students are making in their own future.

鈥淎s a world-class research institution, we are taking action now that strengthens our long-term sustainability and positions Essex for the next 60 years.

鈥淲e know this news will cause concern among our staff and students, and we are putting in place additional support to help them throughout this period and updating them regularly.

鈥淭his is not a decision we have taken lightly but after reviewing all reasonable alternatives, we find ourselves having to make decisions we could have never previously imagined.

鈥淚 want to pay tribute to every member of our staff who has played a part in the Southend Campus.

鈥淲e are exceptionally proud of the contribution of our staff to Southend over more than 20 years and the graduates they have nurtured across business, theatre, health and social care.

鈥淭he work of our staff has and will leave a lasting legacy.鈥�