Friday December 6th saw University of Dundee unions, staff and students receive the news that Professor Iain Gillespie has gone with immediate effect. Recent announcements of a £30 million deficit and ‘inevitable' job loses brought to a head a long period of uncertainty and mismanagement.
One person going will not by itself create change. Professor Gillespie is the latest to go. Wendy Alexander's recent retirement was also a signal that something was up. Some people had noticed. On Thursday 5th of December Maggie Chapman MSP asked Graeme Dey the cabinet secretary about the future of the university. Dey's response was that universities are autonomous, although he looked to be listening. Questions about the Dundee institution have been coming from many quarters.
Prior to recent developments the trade unions at the University of Dundee gave an early warning sign there was a problem with strike action an almost constant feature for the last few years. Lengthy strike action was taken about the specific impacts on members. But Unite, Unison and UCU were also taking action to defend the institution and the City. They made clear that the University of Dundee is Dundee’s university.
What happens now? Management at the institution will do what they can to settle the situation. The unions and their members will take a view on how trust can be rebuilt. There are issues across the sector but the Scottish government need to pay close attention to what is happening. The threat of job cuts needs to be lifted. Dundee will be watching.
Published 6 December