Greens demand sustainable plan for Scotland’s universities
On Thursday (18th June) Green MSP Maggie Chapman will lead a Member’s Debate in the Scottish Parliament on what she describes as the growing crisis in Scotland’s universities, with a particular focus on the ongoing situations at the Universities of Dundee and Aberdeen.
Maggie Chapman MSP, who represents the North East Region and serves as Rector of University of Dundee, elected by students on an anti-cuts platform, has been one of the most outspoken critics of the handling of both crises. In recent months, she has challenged university leaders and governing bodies, raised concerns directly with ministers, and called for greater parliamentary scrutiny of university governance.
The debate comes amid continuing threats to jobs across the sector. More than 675 staff have already been cut from Dundee following the crisis caused by financial mismanagement and poor governance. More than 100 academic posts are now at risk at the University of Aberdeen through ongoing restructuring and cost-cutting proposals.
The debate will focus not only on the immediate threat to jobs, but also on wider concerns about governance, accountability, transparency, and staff wellbeing across Scotland’s higher education sector.
Maggie Chapman MSP said:
“Scotland’s universities are facing a crisis. But the biggest tragedy is that so much of this was avoidable.
“At Dundee, hundreds of staff have already paid the price for years of catastrophic leadership, failed governance, and decisions that should never have been allowed to happen.
"Now management is seeking to push through yet more cuts despite the enormous damage that has already been done to teaching, research, student support and staff morale.
“At Aberdeen, staff face the prospect of losing their jobs while being asked to accept sweeping restructuring proposals and increased workloads. Once again, staff and students are being expected to carry the burden of decisions made elsewhere.
“The people who teach our students, carry out world-leading research, support learning, maintain our campuses, and keep our universities running are not responsible for these crises. They should not be made to pay for failures at the top.“What I hear, repeatedly, from staff is exhaustion, anxiety, and a profound loss of confidence in leadership and governance. Many feel ignored, sidelined, and treated as obstacles rather than partners in securing the future of their institutions.
“The lessons from Dundee should have been learned long ago. Instead, we continue to see governance failures, poor decision-making, inadequate scrutiny, and a lack of meaningful engagement with staff and students.
“We need a different approach. That means genuine partnership with workers and students, adherence to Fair Work principles, transparent decision-making, proper accountability for those in leadership positions, and a long-term plan to secure the future of higher education in Scotland.
“Universities are not businesses. They are public institutions that sit at the heart of our communities, our economy and our future. We cannot continue down a path where staff and students are expected to absorb the consequences of repeated management failures.“I stand in solidarity with the workers, trade unions and students who, together, make Scotland’s universities what they are: some of the best in the world.”