University of Dundee students who set up camp for a 24-hour sit-in outside the offices of its bosses have peacefully left the building - with two of their demands relating to recent strike action successfully met.
The group of around a dozen students arrived with sleeping bags, cushions and food at 8am on Thursday to begin a day-long protest at the university's treatment of staff who walked out at the start of the week.
Workers affiliated with the UCU trade union are on the final day of industrial action to challenge imminent changes to their pensions that they say will see retirement pots slashed by a third.
Staff are also calling for a blanket £2,500 pay rise, an end to discriminatory wage gaps and the end of casual contracts that leave some academic staff jobless outside of term time.
Jake Mace, one of those who camped in the corridor outside uni principal Iain Gillespie's office, said two of the students' demands had been accepted.
The 23-year-old general secretary of the Dundee Student Renters Union told Dundee Live : "We're all out and safe. We spoke with the principal last night and two of our demands were met. The battle continues on the picket line."
Security staff agreed to leave the students undisturbed as long as they weren't disruptive.
However, signs promoting the 'occupation' of the fourth-floor corridor were torn down - with the order allegedly coming from on high.
The university has agreed to donate unpaid wages belonging to striking staff to its own Student Hardship Fund, and will also make a donation to support those fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In addition, Dundee Uni chiefs have accepted a request from the students to sit down with UCU reps for further discussions.
However, the institution says changes to academic pensions are out of their hands, as they are handled by the national Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).
A spokesperson said: "We have donated monies from previous strikes to the student hardship fund and are already planning to do so again. On this occasion we are also planning to make a donation to those affected by the war in Ukraine.
"We do meet regularly with all of the campus unions including UCU. Additionally members of the University Executive Group have engaged with those on the picket line.
"Negotiations on USS and pay are held at a national level. With regards to USS we are supportive of the decisions of the Joint Negotiating Committee, which includes representatives from the employers and UCU."
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