The Staff’s Column
Is the layoff season over?
After the round of cost reductions at SDU – KOP23 – the question remains whether the University is facing stability or just experiencing a calm before the storm? With unexpected financial challenges, including a request for DKK 224 million from the Danish Road Directorate for the New HEALTH project, the question arises: Will there be a KOP24?
In the spring of 2023, SDU implemented a round of comprehensive cost reductions, KOP23, with the goal of achieving financial stability by 2027. Naming a round of cost reductions and even adding a year to it is remarkable in itself, and many may believe that it implicitly signals that more savings rounds are expected – a KOP24, KOP25, KOP26, KOP27, KOP28, etc.
The immediate goal of KOP23 was achieved by significantly reducing the technical-administrative workforce at SDU, but the summer of 2023 nevertheless introduced new challenges that are once again casting a cloud on the University’s financial horizon: In June 2023, University Director Thomas Buchvald Vind informed the Board of an unexpected development related to the New HEALTH project. A quarterly report from the Danish Road Directorate revealed that the project reserves have been exhausted and that the budget has been exceeded. The Danish Road Directorate is now requesting an additional DKK 224 million!
‘The Board has already increased the budget for New HEALTH twice before. SDU has therefore requested a statement from the Danish Road Directorate. After receiving the statement, management will coordinate with the chairmanship on how to proceed.’
Employees still haven’t heard anything. The minutes from the last board meeting on 8 December 2023 have not yet been published, but perhaps they will further darken the clouds looming over the future of the University? Will SDU’s own funds, amounting to more than DKK 500 million in various investments, be put into play to alleviate the current situation, or will the burden once again fall mainly on the technical/administrative staff in terms of cuts and job losses?
Employees are waiting in suspense! Will there be a KOP24 and a new layoff season?
