As March draws to a close, the serious issues at the University of Dundee continue.
Wednesday March 19th saw interim principal Shane O'Neill and Court acting chair Tricia Bey and colleagues attend the Parliament's Education Committee https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/5204951/dundee-university-criminality-cash-crisis/ .
The three hour session saw members of the Parliament's political parties ask pointed questions about evident limitations of management and governance.
Those University of Dundee staff and students watching the Education Committee were left open mouthed at what they saw and heard. Nothing that was shared indicated that the present management have ideas that will allow them to come up with an alternative plan to cutting 632 full-time equivalent posts. No significant answers were given to explain how the institution has created a £35 million deficit that has provoked the planned job cuts.
How Scotland’s politicians respond to what was a less than convincing performance by the current management remains to be seen. Whilst the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has now extended a £22 million loan to the University, the detail of ‘strings attached' is still to be fully understood. The loan will keep the doors open. Meanwhile, an independent investigation into recent management of the institution is set to begin.
Friday 21st was the date that brought conclusion of student elections at the university. A week long campaign followed three weeks of strike action by the UCU trade union. In addition to the student association roles up for election, Maggie Chapman had been nominated by students to run for Rector.
The outcome saw Maggie Chapman (pictured) receive over 50% of the votes cast by the students who took part https://www.dundee.ac.uk/stories/maggie-chapman-msp-elected-next-rector-university In the competitive election Maggie highlighted the need for transparency and support for students. The students elected a Rector that will ask serious questions on their behalf. The elections additionally saw Tanaiste Custance, who had proposed Maggie for Rector, elected as student president.
The situation at the University of Dundee remains precarious. A second union, Unison, returned a positive ballot for strike action. Unison and the other two campus unions, UCU and Unite will await a revised plan from principal O'Neil. The unions, students, the Rector and political representatives will assess its merits. The removal of compulsory redundancies and meaningful involvement of the unions will be amongst the minimum expectations. As Roz Foyer of the STUC has recently stated, the university staff cannot be used as 'cannon fodder' https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/5206875/dundee-university-staff-trade-union/
The future of the university now hangs in the balance. An alliance that can create a convincing picture of what that future looks like, and work for it, is beginning to emerge.
Published 23 March 2025