Dundee University: Seaton departure must lead to redundancies halt
The impending departure of University of Dundee interim Vice-Chancellor Nigel Seaton must mark a turning point for the university, with an immediate halt to planned redundancies and a fresh approach to its financial crisis, says local Green MSP and University Rector Maggie Chapman.
Seaton is due to leave his post this week, ahead of Angela Scott taking over as his successor.
Chapman’s comments follow the Scottish Funding Council’s decision to withhold a £7 million instalment of emergency funding after the university failed to meet the conditions attached to the payment, amid scrutiny of its reported £80 million cash balance.
More than 800 staff have reportedly left the university since 2024, with a further 154 redundancies being sought.
Maggie Chapman said:
“The staff and students of the University of Dundee deserve better than what they have been through recently. The future must be built with them, not at their expense.
“Given the interim Principal’s departure this week, the first step must be to pause the threat of further redundancies and give the university the chance to find a better way forward.
“Change at the top of the university gives the chance for new thinking, genuine transparency and an end to the secrecy that has characterised recent months.
“The planned cuts must be halted immediately. Another round of redundancies will not resolve the underlying problems. They risk creating a death spiral that strips the university of the people, skills and expertise it needs to recover and rebuild.
“There are serious questions to answer about the university’s finances and the relationship between its financial position and the proposed job losses. Staff and students deserve clear answers, not further uncertainty.
“The reported £80 million cash balance demands a full and transparent explanation.
“I recognise that not all cash held by the university will be available for day-to-day spending. But staff, students and the public are entitled to know exactly where the money is held, what commitments or restrictions apply, and why further redundancies are being presented as necessary.
“We cannot allow staff and students to pay the price for decisions they did not make. There must be proper scrutiny of the financial decisions and governance that brought the university to this point, including the assumptions underpinning the proposed cuts."
Maggie added:
“Angela Scott’s arrival must be an opportunity to change direction. The university needs a recovery plan built around protecting jobs, supporting students and safeguarding its teaching and research. This requires genuine engagement with staff and students, not a refusal to take concerns and questions seriously.
“Scotland needs strong universities that serve our communities, sustain good jobs and deliver world-class teaching and research. That requires sustainable funding and meaningful accountability, not a cycle of crisis followed by cuts.
“As Rector, I will continue to press for openness, accountability and the interests of the university community to be put first."