Queen’s Announces New India Campus Amid Concerns Over Redundancies
By Katie O’Doherty
Queen’s University’s new India Campus, announced on the 30th January, has sparked the university’s latest controversy. The new QUB campus is set to open in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City in India, a business district and smart city established in the Gujarat region in 2015. The university hopes the new post-graduate campus will see it’s first cohort of students in January 2026.
Officials from the university have expressed excitement for this new development. Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor Sir Ian Greer expressed they are “delighted” at the news and hope the campus “will offer opportunity and potential for a diverse range of students whilst also delivering social value and economic impact to the region.” [1] The decision is likely to broaden Queen’s horizons and allow the university to take its place on the international stage.
However, this comes surprisingly soon after the university announced 270 redundancies of lecturers and supporting staff in October 2024- leaving up to 5% of Queen’s Campus staff out of work. [2] This was implemented due to the Universities budget deficit of £12.7 million revealed in it’s most recent annual report, largely caused by the decline in international students choosing to study at Queen’s, with only just over 3,700 currently attending Queen’s. [3]
The university has described the scheme as voluntary, with Alistair Finlay, Queen’s Vice-President and Chief People Officer, describing it as, “an opportunity for eligible colleagues who may wish to explore new paths or consider a change in their professional journey. Staff can choose to apply or not, without any pressure or obligation.” [4]
Questions have been raised as to the feasibility of this new campus, set to cost between £5-7 million. [5] Whilst students struggle with rising rent, gas and food prices, instead of using the millions of pounds to offer support it is instead being funnelled into economies abroad. The sharp turnaround from cutting jobs due to an ever-growing budget deficit to building a new campus off Northern Irish shores, has raised suspicions over Queen’s financial priorities.
These views have been echoed by the University and College Union, an organisation which many Queen’s staff are a part of. The Gown spoke to the UCU, hearing that they are
“not opposed to transnational education projects and improving access to Higher Education for all. Our concern about a campus in GIFT city is the experience for all QUB students and staff, wherever they are based. Coming at a time when the university has also opened a voluntary severance scheme and is making other cost savings, there is potential impact on staff workloads that would affect the student experience.”
The issue also raises questions over how quality of education will be affected for students who attend the university, considering almost 5% of staff will be lost from the university. [2] In a comment from the Student Union president Kieran Minto, it was clarified that no compulsory redundancies will be issued, student experience and education will not be impacted, and staff will not experience a workload increase. He mentions that he and other officers have met with the University and the University and College Union to discuss both issues and that they “recognise the uncertainty caused.”
He has also stated that the Student’s Union are closely monitoring plans for the proposed new campus. The statement details,
“Our priority is to ensure that this international expansion does not come at the expense of students here. We remain committed to holding the University accountable for continued investment in improving the student’s experience in Belfast while also ensuring that students in India have fair access to representation and support; and we are monitoring developments accordingly”
Despite the reassurances, it seems that both staff and students within QUB cannot help but feel overlooked and betrayed in this decision. Funding international expansion whilst neglecting the struggles of students and staff in this time of financial uncertainty has caused a universal sense of anger and frustration. It seems that Queen’s must do more to ensure that they are acting in the best interests of its community.
References
[1] “Queen’s University Belfast to launch campus in GIFT City, India”, Queen’s University Belfast, 30th Jan 2025, https://www.qub.ac.uk/News/Allnews/2025/QueensUniversityBelfasttolaunchcampusinGIFTCityIndia.html
[2] Meredith, R., “Queen’s University to cut jobs as it faces £11m deficit”, BBC News. 25th Oct 2024. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy54v5lg45o
[3] ] “Annual Report 2023-24”, Queen’s University Belfast, 16th December 2024, https://www.qub.ac.uk/home/Filestore/annual-report-23-24.pdf (PDF file)
[4] “Queen’s Launches Voluntary Severance Scheme”, Queen’s University Belfast, 3rd Feb 2025, https://www.qub.ac.uk/News/Allnews/2025/QueenslaunchesVoluntarySeveranceScheme.html
[5] Flanagan, E., “‘Scandalous’ move by university to open India campus amid job cuts”, BBC News, 4th Feb 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gwq7e4l5zo
