University of Dundee cuts to be ‘worse than expected’

The number of staff potentially affected by job cuts at the University of Dundee could be as high as 700.  

It was previously reported that job losses would be 632, however, the university’s interim principal Shane O’Neill confirmed the figure related to full-time-equivalent roles, and the number of staff affected would be higher.  

In a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s education committee, he provided further details as to how the university will try to bridge its £35m deficit.   

He wrote: “We estimate that around 700 individuals would be impacted.”  

Maggie Chapman, the incoming rector, said the figures were “worse than expected” and described the job losses as a “crushing blow” to the campus and the university’s reputation.

She said: “This is even worse than many of us expected. It is a shocking act of vandalism that will pile further crisis on the institution.   

“The sense of betrayal will be felt by staff and students all across the campus and beyond. And of course, this number doesn’t reflect the over 200 vacancies that currently exist and won’t be filled.  

“The university has been brought to the brink by years of mismanagement, incompetence and poor decisions from a senior management team that has failed to listen or to engage with those around them.”

According to the figures stated in the letter, the University of Dundee employs 3,259 staff members on a full-time basis.  

O’Neill warned the education committee earlier this month that the university could have run out of money by June if did not receive £22m worth of support from the Scottish Funding Council.