Major UK university announces 200 jobs at risk – £35m blow | UK | News

The institution has announced that around 200 more jobs could be made redundant at the University of Dundee in a bid to “ensure the survival of the University”.

Some 645 posts have already gone at the crisis-hit organisation, following two rounds of voluntary redundancies after a £35m black hole was revealed in its finances.

But bosses said a further £20 million needed to be found with the abolition of 190 jobs to be split equally between teaching and professional services.

Ministers for Education Mairi McAllan asked for the announcement to be paused at a meeting on Tuesday morning, according to a government spokesman, saying ministers were “deeply concerned and disappointed”.

Interim principal Professor Nigel Seaton, who was brought in to stabilize the university after the previous leadership team was gutted by scandal, admitted he knew the situation would be “terrible” for those at risk but work needed to be done to save the institution.

In a statement, Prof Seaton said: “We have informed staff that we are consulting collectively on proposals to reduce staff numbers to approximately 190 posts, split equally between our academic and professional service communities.

“Our staff who are at risk of dismissal are being informed today.

“Over the last 18 months we have taken strong action to improve our financial position, including two rounds of voluntary redundancies, introducing tighter financial controls, freezing non-essential hiring and limiting our operational spend.

“Between August 2024 and May 2026, the number of people working at the university decreased by 675 people.

“All of this has had a significant impact and we have made significant progress towards our goal of achieving financial stability.

“We have also received significant support from the Scottish Government through the Scottish Finance Council to help us on the road to recovery.

“But even with all this taken into account, we still have a long way to go to be financially sustainable.

“To achieve this we need to deliver further savings of around £20 million per year.”

Prof Seaton said the university had made “progress” in reducing its non-staff spending but added there was “a limit to how far we can go” as further savings needed to be made on staffing.

While the headteacher emphasized that the 190 layoffs were just an offer, he said: “We know this is a very difficult message for staff and our community, especially given the staff changes that have been made in recent months.

“Our aim is to ensure that any reduction in roles is achieved through voluntary redundancy wherever possible.”

He added: “I am conscious of the very difficult – indeed awful – experience that staff in particular have had since our financial crisis was recognised.

“If there was another way to secure the future of the university without implementing the change we have outlined, we would choose it.

“But we must achieve this to ensure that the university survives and that we continue to do great things for our students, the beneficiaries of our research and wider society.”

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, a Scottish Government spokesman said: “Ministers are deeply concerned and disappointed by what we have heard from the University of Dundee today.

“The Minister of Education met with the university principal first thing this morning.

“He initially asked for the announcement to be paused and made clear his view that appropriate engagement with unions should be ensured, but we are not yet sure that this has happened.

“He will meet with the SFC today to understand their position and discuss the steps they will take to reassure the government.”

Ian Ellis, co-chairman of the Dundee branch of the UCU union, said the news was “devastating” for staff and students.

“Once again, staff are paying the price for management failures and managerial missteps,” he said.

“Every job lost through voluntary redundancy or possible compulsory redundancies is a tragedy for the individuals affected, but it also reduces the burden on the university and leaves increasingly difficult workloads for remaining staff.”

While UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: “Just last week UCU members in Dundee voted overwhelmingly to defend jobs and secure the future of the university.

“It is up to members to decide the next step in this dispute, but I know their resolve has not waned since the crisis was first announced in Autumn 2024.

“The administration must be clear that we will continue to advocate for every job we can, individually and collectively, as we always have.”

Scottish Tory education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher urged the university against “tightening the screw further” which would create further job losses, adding: “The SNP Government must take action to help its leaders create a multi-year plan that secures work and learning for students, rather than focusing on one-off payments that appear to do little today.”

“Failure to do so risks a brain drain and a much-loved university operating in name only.”