Change guru tells Cardiff University staff that proposed cuts could ‘break’ it
Martin Shipton
The transformation guru behind Cardiff University’s controversial cuts programme has warned staff that the proposals it unveiled in January could “break” the institution.
Dr David Langley, who describes himself as both a “disruptive innovator” and a “polymath”, has worked closely with Vice Chancellor Wendy Larner in devising changes which have placed more than 1300 academics at risk of redundancy.
In a webinar viewed by staff, Dr Langley has warned that the current transformation programme risks “breaking a lot of things at once”.
He told them that “risk is inherent”, but that they should be excited about the changes underway.
The transformation programme, he said, was “huge” and “exciting”.
‘Discombobulated’
Asked whether “ordinary staff” shared Dr Langley’s sense of “excitement”, Professor Larner admitted that recent changes meant the university was “discombobulated”.
She added: “I absolutely know that it is a hugely challenging time for our university … I really, genuinely do know how challenging this is for everyone, whether you are in scope [for redundancy] or not in scope. You know, the university is discombobulated. I do understand that we can’t stay discombobulated.”
Dr Langley is on a two-year contract which expires in April 2026. He is listed as a consultant by the Higher Education consultancy Invisible Grail which claims on its website to “create experiential and imaginative approaches to professional development in universities: workshops, development programmes and coaching for Higher Education leaders” and that it is “here to support people to lead with courage and humanity. To choose new ways to connect and collaborate. To bring out the best in one another and our institutions, and build a better world.”
‘Disruptive Innovator’
A section about Dr Langley on Invisible Grail’s website is headlined “Disruptive Innovator”. It states: “David considers himself an experienced polymath having worked in leadership roles at globally leading organisations where his focus has been research, innovation and knowledge exchange.
“He was until recently Chief of External Engagement at NMITE, the innovative ‘disruptor’ higher education institute newly created in Hereford.
“My previous roles have achieved transformation and change through ambition to be the best, to improve and grow, and to embrace purpose; strategies and plans evolve from this. It’s essential to co-create solutions with the people tasked in delivering them. This involves a critical role for leaders in developing and articulating the vision and reasons for change, recognising this is as much an art as a science.”
“I’m passionate about the enabling role education and skills play in improving life opportunities and career prospects, and innovating higher education so it remains cutting edge, impactful, and high
Quality.”
NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering) in Hereford is not ranked in major UK university league tables like the Complete University Guide or the Times Higher Education Rankings.
This is because the institution either does not meet the inclusion criteria for these rankings or has specifically requested to be excluded. NMITE focusses on offering accelerated, industry-focused engineering degrees, aiming to get students into the workforce sooner with less debt.
‘Imaginative approaches’
An introductory section on Invisible Grail’s website states: “We create experiential and imaginative approaches to professional development in universities: workshops, development programmes and coaching for Higher Education leaders.
“We’re here to support people to lead with courage and humanity. To choose new ways to connect and collaborate. To bring out the best in one another and our institutions, and build a better world.”
The end is approaching of a 90-day consultation on Cardiff University’s proposals, which included 400 job cuts and the closure of five of its Schools, including Nursing and Music.
A member of the Cardiff branch of the University and College Union, who did not want to be named for fear of recrimination, told Nation.Cymru: “It’s all right for Langley and Larner – they’re just visiting. They won’t be in Cardiff when the university has crashed as a result of their ‘experiential and imaginative’ approach.
“Langley is on a two-year contract and no-one expects the Vice Chancellor to stick around for long. Jaws are dropping all over the UK Higher Education system at what Cardiff’s leadership has done.
“Meanwhile most staff think being asked to be excited about the prospect of colleagues losing their jobs is deeply insulting.
“It’s no wonder that the union got such a clear mandate for strikes and a marking and assessment boycott.”
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“the closure of five of its Schools, including Nursing and Music” I cannot understand why only 2 of the 5 schools are mentioned by name. Surely we need the basic facts of the situation before coming to any informed judgement. And what could be more basic than the full list of schools under threat?
Oops. Forget my surname in previous comment. Sorry
“The transformation programme was “huge” and “exciting”.
Is this bloke on crack? Very much in keeping with the global trend of grandiose wierdos who smash things up simply to see what happens.
Wendy would have been better off giving the contract to one of those Kazak shamans.
“Disruptor” = “Vandal” in this case. Like so many institutions of its kind Cardiff Uni may have had problems of academic organisation, support functions and budgetary control as it attempted to meet its market expectations. Not that unusual in our society and economy. What surprises me is that the situation was allowed to deteriorate so badly before anyone even contemplated remedial action. It is arguable that remedies adopted 3-5 years ago would have been far less painful and might have just involved focussing more on the core business and less haring off chasing business on the far side of the… Read more »
Innivation requires thouruogh testing – PGR is an impressive inovattion centre in Cardoff and in their training they talk at lenth about repeat testing, reaserch and avoiding risks. These people dont seem to understand design and innovation
Also i heard that Cardiff Uni has so much reserves its more then the welsh government! They are holdingnonto them instead of using them to coushin potential losses from such wreckess ventures as the Khazacstan campus.
The WordPress wasinve Bedford this kind of exceptionality. Failing towards and being allowed to do it. Clearly not good advisor if you think it might break anything. Instead of enhance.
The leadership at Cardiff University have forgotten they are dealing with people’s lives. To put over 1000 people’s jobs at risk is a shameful thing to do. The stress and worry experienced by these people must be off the scale.
This is normal in the private sector. Academia isn’t a retirement home.
Yes academia is different from business. Business is about turning a profit. Academia is about creating, preserving and passing on knowledge which is the common inheritance of humankind. To do this effectively requires privileges such as academic freedom and a collective sense of vocation. If you do not understand this then go and join the company of Messrs Trump and Putin.
Academia isn’t a retirement home. Just because success isn’t (or shouldn’t be) measured by profit doesn’t mean success isn’t measurable or important. Cardiff isn’t a top 10 teaching and research university. It should be. Everyone being paid a salary has a responsibility to fix that.
Does anyone know how much they are paying Langley?
Too much. And when he goofs up he’ll head off to his next pay day no doubt. Shameless.
The problem with Welsh Higher Education is that there have been too many heads in the sand for too long. The issues are not new; but government, unions and academics did not want to address them. The likes of Larner and Langley then moved into the void.
I’m surprised they allow him to come to the webinars anymore, as he fails to answer a single question, and obfuscates at every opportunity.
Whilst everyone is shaking their heads at Academic Futures a whole portfolio of significant change to PS / processes is happening relatively unnoticed.
Is there any indication about the outcomes of the 24th April UEB census point?
According to the Business School’s internal comms, it appears that the UEB may have missed delivering the outcomes for the April 24 checkpoint ”we don’t have any firm news at this point as to our current situation within Academic Futures. UEB are meeting regularly, including today, and we hope to have an update of our position to share with you early next week”