STAFF feel "angry and betrayed" at the news that Bournemouth University is to cut 50 academic jobs.

The lecturers' union has called for a slowdown in the modernisation plans - thought many students seem unaware of the controversy.

The university wants to move from specialising in teaching and vocational work to research.

It is cutting the jobs so it has money to recruit 30 professors and senior lecturers.

Dr Kevin Moloney, head of the University and College Union, said: "People feel angry and betrayed.

"They are going about this in the wrong way. Most staff are generally supportive of the change - but not at the expense of students.

"The teaching will suffer at the expense of students who pay more than £3,000 to come here. We need a moderate, gradual approach. It's just too fast. It's brutal."

New students questioned by the Daily Echo did not know about the plans - but all valued the university's reputation for vocational teaching.

Dora Baracskai, 22, from Hungary, said she had specifically chosen the university for its vocational strength so she could study an HND in food and hospitality.

Geoff Hargreaves, 21, a communications and internet technology student, said: "I'm more technical than academic."

Andrew Maxwell, 22, a recent journalism graduate and now editor of Kudos magazine, said: "Bournemouth is very well respected and gives you a lot of experience. I don't think it's the direction they want to be going.

"University is already not vocational enough for the media and business industry."

The university said no staff would be expected to reapply for their jobs, although some staff may wish to apply for one of the new posts.

"We anticipate this is a one-off exercise, not to be repeated," said a spokesman.

Visitors to the website have been commenting on the story.

Peter from Parkstone said: "What the vice-chancellor doesn't think about as he wields his axe is that the 80 redundancies are actually 80 individuals who have families and mortgages and who now face a bleak winter without a job."

BBM of Bournemouth added: "Has the university management given thought to the question of who teaches units formerly taught by lecturers who will be sacked?

"Even if they expect the remaining lecturers to share the workload, that'll surely cut into the research-time, thus defeating the original argument we want to do more research'."

But Jayteer from Bournemouth said: "I have just graduated from Bournemouth Uni, and let me tell you there are worse places to study. While it is unfortunate that this is happening, it is nevertheless compulsory to modernise, and remain competitive."