Faculty of Science freezes all hiring to stem financial shortfall

The financial problems at the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) are now starting to have serious consequences.

As of 3 June, the faculty has introduced a so-called qualified hiring freeze that affects all positions.

This was announced in a statement on KUnet.

The freeze has been implemented to limit the number of dismissals that may hit the faculty as a result of a structural deficit that the Faculty has been struggling with for a long time.

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Will hit both academic and admin staff

The decision was made by the dean after discussions in the faculty’s staff collaboration committee and applies to both academic staff (VIP) and technical-administrative staff (TAP), regardless of whether the positions are externally funded or not.

In practice, this means that no positions can be advertised or extended without specific approval from a manager one level above the usual decision-maker.

The hiring freeze will remain in place until the end of the year, for now.

Positions will only be filled if deemed ‘business-critical’. According to management, this means tasks necessary to maintain safe operations or to meet agreements with external partners.