Bosses at the troubled University of East Anglia have been accused of "unforgivable cruelty" over allegations it continued overseas hiring while planning redundancies.

The UEA is currently looking to make £45m of savings over the next three years as it deals with a £30m budget deficit. 

Its financial struggles were made public in January, but documents seen by this newspaper have revealed bosses first began discussing potential redundancies in June last year.

Yet, despite knowing of its precarious position,the university continued to recruit academics from overseas - whose residency may be dependent on their employment.

Michael Frazer, an associate professor in political and social theory, joined the UEA from Harvard University in America in 2015 and has gone on to gain British citizenship.

But he said he feared for other international colleagues who had joined more recently, particularly those recruited since last June.

Eastern Daily Press: Michael Frazer, an associate professor from the UEAMichael Frazer, an associate professor from the UEA (Image: Michael Frazer)

He said: "I'm fortunate enough to have recently become a UK citizen, but many of my international friends at UEA are not so lucky, and are now facing the prospect of deportation if they lose their jobs.

"The fact that some of them were lured here when the university was already secretly planning compulsory redundancies is unconscionable.

"Recruiting immigrants to UEA under false pretences, knowing full well they might be deported only months after arriving, is an act of unforgivable cruelty.

"How could we ever have confidence in university leaders who are capable of doing such a thing?" 
 

A UEA spokesman said: “We have continued to appoint candidates who might be based outside the UK.

"Any job candidates and subsequent new starters have been made aware of the proposed cost savings measures since the start of this year.

"We have a sponsor licence from the Home Office which allows us to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to eligible employees.

"By assigning the certificate we confirm to the Home Office that proposed employment conditions comply with the requirements of the relevant visa route.

"We have to notify the Home Office if there are any change of circumstances.

"It is highly unlikely that anyone holding a visa to work with us will be impacted by the proposed cost-saving measures.”

The allegations come as new vice-chancellor David Maguire - who joined the university on Monday - refused to rule out compulsory redundancies as he looks to address its financial struggles.

He said: "We will do our utmost to make sure this happens by voluntary means", adding that the campus needed to be "right-sized" to become financially sustainable.