Thursday May 14th 2026
A previous protest back on 1 April
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
University and College Union (UCU) Scotland members at Heriot-Watt University today began the first of six strike days across May and June.
Today’s strikes took place as the university’s highest decision making body, the university court, met to consider future strategy.
The UCU members are striking over plans to cut jobs in the university’s languages and intercultural studies departments and the potential closure of the Scholar programme which could cause compulsory redundancies.
Members backed strike action by 74% on a 70% turnout and took nine days of strike action earlier in the Spring. UCU members will also take strike action in June ‘unless management takes steps to resolve the dispute before then’.
Following today’s university court meeting, a Heriot-Watt University spokesperson explained that ‘redundancies are necessary to secure a sustainable way forward’, expressing that they remain ‘committed to pursuing redundancy and redeployment through voluntary means and to continuing constructive dialogue’.
In the beginning of March, over 2,000 people signed a petition protesting plans to cut language teaching and research at Heriot-Watt University.
The petition was set up by the University and College Union (UCU) branch at the university in response to plans to cut a third of staff at the university’s Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies. The plans would see 11 jobs lost and the end to undergraduate teaching in German and Chinese. The cuts are part of a wider proposal at the university cutting jobs across the university’s Scottish and Malaysian campuses including the potential ending of the Scholar programme which delivers online learning in schools.
The university’s spokesperson also explained the disappointment that ‘UCU’s planned industrial action includes the University’s June graduation ceremonies’, highlighting it as ‘a significant celebratory milestone for students and their families and carers.’
They added: “The University is taking necessary action to reduce very low-enrolment courses and reshape provision so that our disciplines remain academically strong, financially sustainable and aligned with student demand. Maintaining the right balance of staff, programmes and courses is essential to protecting both the student experience and Heriot-Watt’s long-term future.
“The University has responded constructively to concerns raised during union discussions while addressing the underlying financial challenges facing both LINCS and SCHOLAR. We have proposed a reduced number of redundancies and extended timelines to maximise opportunities for voluntary solutions. These proposals have been rejected by UCU. Heriot-Watt remains committed to pursuing redundancy and redeployment through voluntary means and to continuing constructive dialogue. However, these redundancies are necessary to secure a sustainable way forward.”
The union expressed that they remain open to sitting down with management to resolve the dispute but that the principal and senior managers had to commit to rule out compulsory redundancies rather than ‘repeating proposals UCU members have decisively rejected’.
The union said it was hopeful that the month between today’s strike and the later dates will allow for progress to be made but, if not, the June strike days will take place at the same time students are graduating from the university.
The cuts and job losses have also caused alarm beyond the university. News reports have focused on the possibility of the Scholar programme ending after 25 years and over 2,500 people have signed a petition against cuts on language teaching. Professional bodies and the German consulate have also made their concerns public.
The Association for German studies in Great Britain and Ireland, Women in German Studies, and the German Language Association told the principal that there was danger of reputational risk and that “… Heriot-Watt is now in danger of damaging its hard-earned international unique selling point…” and that the department was a model for other universities in Scotland.
UCU’s Heriot-Watt branch president explained: “Staff at the university have again been forced to strike to defend jobs and oppose these cuts. It’s disappointing that the University won’t commit to protecting Scholar and undergraduate German and Chinese at Heriot-Watt especially as it is clear from the reaction outside the university that both are well regarded and highly valued.
“There is an opportunity between today and the next strike dates in mid-June for meaningful discussion to end this dispute without resorting to compulsory redundancies.”
Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, added: “In the face of widespread opposition from staff at Heriot Watt and the wider community, senior management have up till now prioritised staff cuts above ending the strikes. Despite this, it’s not too late to end this dispute. Before we move into the summer and graduations, the principal needs to meet with the union and rule out using compulsory redundancies at Heriot-Watt.”
As well as striking today, staff at Heriot Watt will also be striking on Monday 15, Tuesday 16, Wednesday 17, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 June.
Tweet Share on Facebook
