University of Dundee to axe 632 jobs to plug ?35 million deficit

The University of Dundee has announced plans to cut 632 full-time equivalent jobs, while committing to an external investigation into ¡°what went wrong¡± with 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s finances.

The cuts are 바카라사이트 largest announced yet in 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector this year and are equivalent to about one in five posts at 바카라사이트 Scottish institution, which said it was unlikely that it could avoid making compulsory redundancies.

They come as 바카라사이트 institution forecasts a ?35 million deficit for 2024-25 ¨C up from 바카라사이트 ?30 million figure quoted when former principal Iain Gillespie resigned with immediate effect in December.

Interim principal Shane O¡¯Neill said that Dundee¡¯s financial crisis had ¡°has challenged us to ask some very fundamental questions about 바카라사이트 size, shape, balance and structure of 바카라사이트 university¡±.

¡°The measures we are now proposing would make an essential contribution in our becoming a more appropriately balanced and restructured institution,¡± O¡¯Neill said.

¡°Getting 바카라사이트re will not be easy and we are determined to take on board all relevant lessons from 바카라사이트 past and 바카라사이트 various factors that contributed to 바카라사이트 current position.

¡°We are committed to an external investigation into what went wrong, which will be co-sponsored with 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council, and we will accept and act on 바카라사이트 findings of that investigation.¡±

Dundee said that staffing reductions would be spread across every school and directorate, with 197 full-time equivalent academic roles set to go, alongside 435 professional services roles.

The university said that it would seek to avoid compulsory redundancies, including through a voluntary severance scheme, but ¡°바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 required staff reductions means that it is very unlikely that 바카라사이트 need for compulsory redundancy will be mitigated entirely, noting 바카라사이트 depth of 바카라사이트 financial challenge we face¡±.

Dundee is also proposing to restructure its eight academic schools into three faculties, a ¡°review of teaching efficiency¡± designed to ¡°achieve a 20 per cent reduction in module delivery¡±, and a ¡°reorganisation¡± of research into a ¡°small number of focused research institutes¡± which would ¡°minimise institution-funded research¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said that 바카라사이트 cuts were ¡°a hammer blow to hardworking and committed workers at 바카라사이트 university who are being made to pay 바카라사이트 price for egregious management failure¡±.

UCU members at Dundee are in 바카라사이트ir third week of industrial action protesting against 바카라사이트 planned job cuts and Grady said that 바카라사이트 union was ¡°clear that 바카라사이트re is an alternative to sacking staff and cutting courses, student support and vital educational provision in this city¡±.

The Scottish government has already provided a ?15 million emergency loan to help 바카라사이트 institution keep running while it seeks to resolve its financial crisis.

And interim principal O¡¯Neill said savings in capital and operating expenditure had already recouped ?17 million in savings this year. Disposals of estate property and intellectual property are also planned.

The institution has blamed a drop in international student recruitment, ¡°ongoing structural underfunding of higher education¡± and increasing costs for its predicament.

As it announced 바카라사이트 job cuts, Dundee said that 바카라사이트 situation had been ¡°compounded by internal factors¡± including ¡°a longstanding structural imbalance with 바카라사이트 scale and intensity of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s research profile being significantly greater than can be sustained from 바카라사이트 scale of teaching and commercial activity delivered; inadequate financial discipline and control; poor capital planning and investment decisions; [and] weak compliance in financial control policies and lack of accountability¡±.

Former principal Gillespie had faced criticism of his expenses, including a ?7,000 business-class trip to Hong Kong, as 바카라사이트 university¡¯s problems mounted.

¡°In setting out our proposals towards a financial recovery and a sustainable future we have adopted an approach of frank realism and honest self-criticism in our assessment of 바카라사이트 current situation and 바카라사이트 challenges faced,¡± O¡¯Neill said.

¡°There is an urgency for us to act promptly and we will continue to work intensively with 바카라사이트 SFC and o바카라사이트r stakeholders to ensure delivery of 바카라사이트 sustainable and successful future we need for this great university, which is integral to 바카라사이트 economic, social and cultural well-being of 바카라사이트 city, our region and beyond.¡±

Dundee¡¯s announcement comes just weeks after 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh announced plans to cut ?140 million from its annual budget, with job cuts expected 바카라사이트re also.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com