Not many vice-chancellors own up to their universities being ¡°too aggressive¡± on job cuts, or lament the ¡°tragedy¡± of closing languages courses when their institution is doing just that.

But given the University of Salford¡¯s disastrous start to the month of June, it appears that Martin Hall, its vice-chancellor, has decided to think outside the box.

Last week, Salford disclosed that several courses, including modern languages, linguistics and areas of politics and contemporary history, would be closed; it announced yet another round of job cuts; and news emerged that its deputy vice-chancellor, Adrian Graves, had been sacked for gross misconduct after a ¡°furious bust-up¡± with a student at the university¡¯s swimming pool.

Add in continuing controversy over the cost of Salford¡¯s new building at MediaCityUK and the university¡¯s failed libel action against a former lecturer, and it might appear that Professor Hall¡¯s cup is overflowing with a toxic and possibly overpowering brew.

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Is it fair for the University and College Union to say that there have been 13 rounds of job cuts at Salford in less than two years?

¡°Yes, it is,¡± Professor Hall told Times Higher Education. Salford had ¡°too aggressive an industrial-relations stance in previous years. We¡¯ve got new leadership now in that area within the university.¡±

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Was Dr Graves sacked over the swimming pool incident alone, or was the decision linked to a power struggle at the top of the institution?

¡°The charge was one of gross misconduct,¡± said Professor Hall, stating that the decision had been taken by a special council committee.

¡°That was the charge¡­on which he was dismissed. It was unaccept-able behaviour [towards a student].¡±

On the course closures, Professor Hall said that applications on the programmes were ¡°a third of what we need for viability¡±. He added that Salford had lobbied government and sector officials to extend support for modern languages, ¡°but that¡¯s not forthcoming¡±.

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The vice-chancellor described the closure of modern languages courses at universities around the country as a ¡°tragedy¡±, but added: ¡°I can¡¯t shore up a national policy failure from one small university. What I¡¯m doing is what everybody else has done.¡±

On MediaCityUK, Professor Hall said that the building was ¡°worth every penny¡±. It has cost a reported ?2 million a year in rent and ?30 million in fitting-out costs.

¡°Without it we would have very little distinctiveness as a way forward,¡± he added.

The failed libel action against former Salford lecturer Gary Duke, who criticised Professor Hall and Dr Graves, is reported to have cost more than ?100,000 after a judge ruled that the university could not take action as the matter centred on individuals.

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Professor Hall countered that it was ¡°never about me¡± but ¡°was primarily about students and the university¡±. Pursuing the action was ¡°a judgement call¡± and he ¡°understands¡± the criticism, the vice-chancellor added.

Does he feel positive about the future at Salford and his ability to lead it? ¡°I¡¯m positive about being here, because otherwise I wouldn¡¯t be here. I¡¯ve got other places I could be,¡± Professor Hall said.

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And he argued that in the context of recession, fluctuating student demand in a turbulent sector and previous job cuts, Salford was ¡°doing well¡±.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com