The changes affect the Higher Education Development Centre (HEDC) and could mean the disestablishment of all 14 of its full-time-equivalent staff (FTE) roles, across all three campuses.
They would be replaced with 14 FTE staff doing different roles — some of which would be new FTE roles from outside the HEDC.
A staff member, who declined to be named, said staff were shocked by the "brutal" proposal.
"Everyone is very stressed.
"Most of the centre’s staff are career academics and are facing either losing their jobs or applying for jobs that require academic training, but no academic work, and are at a significantly lower pay scale.
"The announcement was not foreseen by the department."
In a report to the University of Otago, learning and teaching dean Prof Tim Cooper said the purpose of the proposed changes was to shift the centre away from its present profile as "predominantly an academic department, conducting research, supervising PhD students, offering qualifications, and teaching papers in higher education", to one that was more focused on directly supporting the needs of teaching staff in the academic divisions.
"This task is particularly urgent in a context of significant change, both within our university and within the tertiary sector more generally.
"The primary outcome of the proposed changes is to better match HEDC to the work required."
However, in the present financially challenging context, efficiencies were an important secondary consideration, he said.
"HEDC cannot be immune from the expectation currently placed on all units to look to its costs and income, to reduce its staffing wherever possible, and to reflect carefully on its work priorities."
If the changes went ahead, he said present staff would have to apply for the new roles, but would be given first preference.
There would also be "ample opportunities for redeployment".
While the overall FTE would remain the same under the proposal, he said the changed nature of the proposed roles would significantly reduce salary costs.
Prof Cooper told the Otago Daily Times yesterday, another reason for the proposed change was digital learning technologies had become more significant in tertiary education.
"The tertiary learning environment has changed rapidly with the development of new digital learning technologies intensified by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence."
In his report, he said the foremost challenge facing universities at the moment was the rapid escalation in the powers of artificial intelligence (AI).
"Not only does AI threaten the integrity of our educational offerings, it will change our approach to educating students for a world increasingly shaped by AI.
"Therefore, as our university moves quickly to invest in those technologies, we will need a more diverse range of support roles for teaching and learning."
His report said the technological developments would require a transformation in the way lecturers taught, which in turn would require a new level and type of support for teaching staff.
"Over the next few years, our university will be making a significant investment in these new learning technologies.
"Installing them is one thing — supporting teaching staff to use them and to weave them into effective teaching practice, is another.
"That support will be essential."
Yesterday, Prof Cooper said he was "acutely aware" that receiving this proposal was very difficult for directly affected staff, and the university was supporting staff as it worked through this process.
"We very much value our staff and their views on the proposal, and strongly encourage them to connect with support services if needed."
A Tertiary Education Union spokesman declined to comment on the situation at this stage.
The proposed changes would take effect from the end of this year if they are to proceed.
Feedback on the proposal closes at 5pm on May 13.
