AT LEAST eight senior academics at Cardiff University have resigned after managers pushed through job cuts despite unanimous opposition from its Senate, an insider has told the Star.

The University and College Union (UCU) called today for an urgent inquiry into why executives at Wales’s largest university had ignored its highest academic decision-making body.

The eight senate members’ resignation letters all stated they were stepping down in protest at the university governing body’s dismissal of their vote.

“Every letter highlighted governance concerns — and concerns that the senate was not being listened to despite the important role given to it by the university’s statutes and ordinances,” said the insider.

“Resignation letters also made reference to the recent unanimous vote in senate not to recommend the executive board’s plan of radical cuts called Academic Futures for approval.”

One of the members described the decision by the university's council as “making a public mockery of senate.”

“The relationship between the university’s executive board, including the vice-chancellor and the university’s staff and students is now described as toxic and devoid of even a minimum level of trust,” added the source.

UCU Wales official Gareth Lloyd said: “These comments show why it is crucial we have true democratic governance in universities. 

“Our members have needlessly been placed under undue stress. An urgent inquiry needs to take place into why the views of the senate were ignored.”

The university initially said that 400 jobs were at risk and some courses were to be axed in the cost-saving measures.

It later reduced this, pledging that there would be no compulsory redundancies this year.

In an update issued last month, it said that 151 staff had voluntarily resigned, meaning 69 full-time equivalent job losses would now be needed for it to meet its target.

Cardiff UCU has reported its university executive board to the Health and Safety Executive following a “comprehensive breakdown of trust and morale” between university bosses and staff, with the planned job cuts said to have led to a “total health and safety crisis.”

UCU Cardiff spokesman Andy Williams said: “We applaud the brave actions of the growing number of senate members standing down in protest and we are very concerned about what seems to be the increasingly dysfunctional governance of Cardiff University. We ignore these issues at our peril.”

A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “We recognise that the last few months have been, and continue to be, extremely challenging. It is always disappointing to see members of senate decide to step down.

“We respect their decision and thank them for their service.”