The Tertiary Education Union has slammed Massey University for potentially slashing more than 100 jobs, saying it's "short sighted" and "horrific".
Massey University wants to reduce staffing numbers in the natural sciences and food advanced technology areas by 60 percent - with more than 100 jobs expected to go.
It's also proposed engineering and plant science courses are stopped, while the Massey Genome Service and Manawatū Microscopy and Imaging Centre will also close.
The cuts come on top of more than 200 losses in July.
Tertiary Education Union organiser Ben Schmidt told AM on Tuesday the job loses would be for professors, lecturers and frontline technicians who he says "make the labs run safely and smoothly".
He told AM co-host Laura Tupou the proposal is "absolutely outrageous" and would undermine the university and the provision of science in New Zealand.
"The Vice-Chancellor is citing costs as a driver of this proposal, however, the fact is we are two weeks out from a general election. We've seen cash injected into the sector for saving staff jobs and there is an upcoming review of tertiary funding," he said.
"So now is not the time for the Vice-Chancellor to be making short-sighted, horrific cuts to the sciences. Instead, she should stop these cuts and be working towards better funding for the sector, working towards the funding review."
He told AM staff who are potentially facing redundancy are "absolutely devastated".
"We're talking about losing over half of the staff in natural sciences and food and advanced technology," he said.
"They are furious at these short-sighted cuts, especially when the Vice-Chancellor is also seeking to set up shop in Singapore while slashing jobs and science provision here in New Zealand."
Schmidt admitted student numbers have been a "challenge" but added they have started to improve in some areas of the sciences.
"Education is a public good. This would see the loss of plant science qualifications of the Massey Genome Service, which also serve a crucial function for Crown research institutes, communities and businesses. It's not simply about bums on seats," he said.
In a statement, Massey University said like many in the tertiary sector, the university is facing difficult financial conditions and need to reduce costs and generate income to ensure its financially sustainable.
Consultation is now underway and a final decision on the proposed changes is anticipated in November, the university said.
Watch the full interview with Ben Schmidt in the video above.
