Dundee University: 700 staff cuts will pile further crisis upon institution
The announcement that Dundee University will be axing 700 jobs - over a fifth of its workforce - will pile further crisis on the institution while betraying staff and students, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman.
This follows reports that, in a letter to a Holyrood committee, interim principal Professor Shane O’Neill confirmed that around 700 roles will be affected.
This month Ms Chapman was elected as the new Rector of the University, supported by students who back her calls for greater transparency and accountability at the institution. She will take up this voluntary role from 1 August 2025.
Ms Chapman 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.
“The crisis has exposed a total lack of transparency and accountability. If these cuts are allowed to go ahead they will deal a crushing blow to the campus and to the university’s reputation.
“I stand with the workers, trade unions and students who make Dundee University the great institution it is. They deserve dignity, security, and real long term solutions, not even more pain and instability.”