The Tertiary Education Union says a proposal to cut 50 job at Auckland's Unitec institute of technology is a major blow to students.
The institute announced in August this year it plans to cut 50 of the 53 jobs in its design and visual arts department, and create 17 new ones.
The union says the remaining 17 staff will be expected to deliver the same courses to the same number of students for at least the next three years. Secretary Sharn Riggs said on Thursday that many students and their parents are furious.
However, Unitec says it is trying to bring the department closer to the design and visual arts profession, and the changes have the support of designers' professional body the Design Institute.