Dundee University has announced plans to cut almost 200 more jobs as it battles a severe financial crisis. The institution, which has already eliminated 645 posts through two rounds of voluntary redundancy, now faces a further £20 million savings target. This comes after a £35 million black hole in its finances emerged.
Job Cuts Spread Evenly
The university stated that the 190 proposed job losses will be split equally between academic and professional services staff. Interim principal Professor Nigel Seaton, brought in after the previous leadership was undermined by scandal, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but stressed the necessity of the cuts for the university's survival.
In a statement, Professor Seaton said: "We have informed staff that we are moving into collective consultation on proposals to reduce staffing by around 190 posts, split equally across our academic and professional services communities. Staff who are at risk of redundancy are being informed today."
Previous Reductions and Progress
The university has already seen a significant reduction in its workforce, with 675 fewer employees between August 2024 and May 2026. Professor Seaton noted that the institution has taken vigorous action, including two rounds of voluntary severance, tighter financial controls, and a freeze on non-essential recruitment. He added that essential support from the Scottish Government via the Scottish Funding Council has been received.
"However, even after all of this is taken into account, we still have some way to go to become financially sustainable. To achieve this we need to realise further annual savings of around £20 million," he said.
Scottish Government Reaction
The Scottish Government expressed deep concern over the announcement. Education Secretary Mairi McAllan requested a pause to the announcement during a meeting with the university principal on Tuesday morning. A government spokesman said: "Ministers are deeply concerned and disappointed at what we have heard from Dundee University today. The Education Secretary convened a call with the university principal first thing this morning. She in the first instance asked that the announcement was paused and made clear her view that appropriate engagement with the unions must take place, which we are not yet assured has taken place."
Union Response
Ian Ellis, co-president of the Dundee branch of the UCU trade union, described the news as "devastating" for staff and students. "Staff are once again paying the price for management failings and a catalogue of managerial missteps," he said. "Every job that is lost, whether by voluntary redundancy or by possible compulsory redundancies is a tragedy for the individuals impacted but also diminishes the university and leaves increasingly unmanageable workloads for the staff who remain."
UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: "Only last week UCU members at Dundee returned an overwhelming ballot result to defend jobs and ensure a future for the university. It is for members to decide the next step in this dispute but I know their resolve is undiminished since the crisis was first announced in Autumn 2024."
Political Criticism
Scottish Tory education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher urged the university against "tightening the screw" further with more job losses. She called on the SNP Government to help form a multi-year plan that secures jobs and learning for students, warning that failure risks a brain drain and a university that functions in name only.
Professor Seaton emphasized that the aim is to achieve reductions through voluntary redundancy wherever possible, but acknowledged the difficult experience for staff. "We must go through this to ensure that the university survives and that we continue to do great things for our students, for those who benefit from our research, and for society more widely," he said.
