THE University of Dundee has confirmed it is cutting more than 600 jobs, affecting around 20% of staff.
Plans announced by the university on Tuesday reveal 632 jobs will be cut from its 3000 strong workforce.
It comes as the university is struggling to reduce a £35 million deficit – a £5m increase on the original shortfall. The university said £17m of savings had already been identified.
The structure of the university will also be overhauled from eight academic schools to three faculties, and there will also be a 20% reduction in module delivery.
The university said compulsory redundancies could be possible, with a collective consultation on redundancy beginning soon.
Vice chancellor and interim principal Professor Shane O’Neill shared the news with staff at a university-wide principal’s question time event on Tuesday afternoon.
He faced questions from staff, including those currently on strike over the threat of compulsory redundancies.
O’Neill said: “The current financial crisis has challenged us to ask some very fundamental questions about the size, shape, balance and structure of the University.
“The measures we are now proposing would make an essential contribution in our becoming a more appropriately balanced and restructured institution.
“Getting there will not be easy and we are determined to take on board all relevant lessons from the past and the various factors that contributed to the current position.
“We are committed to an external investigation into what went wrong, which will be co-sponsored with the Scottish Funding Council, and we will accept and act on the findings of that investigation.
“In setting out our proposals towards a financial recovery and a sustainable future we have adopted an approach of frank realism and honest self-criticism in our assessment of the current situation and the challenges faced.
“There is an urgency for us to act promptly and we will continue to work intensively with the SFC and other stakeholders to ensure delivery of the sustainable and successful future we need for this great university, which is integral to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of the city, our region and beyond.”
The multimillion-pound deficit was revealed in November last year and saw the university’s principal quit alongside other executives.
Last month, the Scottish Government announced the university will have access to an emergency fund worth up to £15m.
Commenting, Jo Grady, University College Union (UCU) general secretary, said: “This is a hammer-blow to hard working and committed workers at the university who are being made to pay the price for egregious management failure.
“It’s four months since workers first learned that there was a problem, and it feels that very little has happened in the intervening period to turn the university around.
“We are clear that there is an alternative to sacking staff and cutting courses, student support and vital educational provision in this city, and we’ll continue to do all we can to save jobs and to preserve education in Dundee.”
Universities minister Graeme Dey said any plea for more funding would be “carefully considered”.
Dey acknowledged it is a “deeply concerning” time for staff and students, adding: “Whilst Dundee is an autonomous institution, it is my expectation that the university engages fully with staff and makes every effort to protect jobs.
“The Scottish Government, through the Scottish Funding Council, has been actively engaging with the institution and has been clear of the need for a comprehensive financial recovery plan.
“The funding council will closely scrutinise this plan and will continue to offer Dundee support as they secure a sustainable future.
“Our universities play a pivotal role in Scotland’s economy and wider society, and the University of Dundee is significant in that respect.
“It is vital that Dundee recovers so that it can thrive into the future and continue to make a positive impact on Scottish higher education.
“The Scottish Government recently announced an additional £15 million for the Scottish Funding Council to support universities such as Dundee.
“If there is a further financial ask to be made of Government in relation to the immediate challenges faced by the university, then this will be carefully considered.”
FitzPatrick added: "There still remains a lack of clarity about how the university ended up at this point and why these issues weren’t addressed sooner.
"“Staff who are hearing that their jobs are at risk deserve more transparency from the university.
“I am seeking further meetings with the unions, the university, and my colleagues in the Scottish Government about what more can be done, including whether additional financial support is required, to protect jobs and avoid compulsory redundancies.”
Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman said: “These proposed cuts are brutal, so much worse than expected.
“It is devastating news for staff and students, who have seen the institution they love being dragged into a financial crisis by a senior management team that is not fit for purpose.
“For them to propose cutting a fifth of staff is a shocking betrayal of their workers and the students whose services will suffer.”
