What is the ruling on downloading pirated (cracked) computer programs onto university devices, is it considered Islamically forbidden, and what is the solution for preserving one's job in the event of its prohibition?

The authoritative fatwa according to us is that it is impermissible to infringe upon the rights of authors and software owners by copying their works or cracking them without their permission.

You must instruct the college officials to cease infringing upon the rights of the owners of these programs. If they insist, then it is impermissible for you to crack the software or use similar methods to obtain the program unlawfully. In that case, you must either transfer to another task that does not involve installing unauthorized programs, or seek another job.