Photo by Matthew Rees
Among the proposed cuts at the University of Dundee is the Global Room, a space often described as a “home from home”. The staff who run the Global Room are at threat of redundancy, including staff who have worked at the University for over a decade.
One staff member told The Jute Journal that her “role in the Global Room is currently at risk.” She continued, “this is deeply concerning not only for students, but also for me personally.”
The Global Room is used by international and home students, neurodiverse students, and anyone needing a calm, supportive environment. Staff support students facing cultural, social, or financial barriers and work with student societies to run culturally significant events and build community at the University.
The incoming Vice President of Community for DUSA, Sean Kwok told The Jute Journal:
“The Global Room is a cornerstone of our student community. Before this news, I’d been excited to explore how students and staff can further collaborate here. The appeal is not about big events but day-to-day life. Students, including myself, use this uniquely informal space to study, wind down, and make connections in the presence of trusted staff. I know they bring immense value to students’ time here because I always hear fellow students say the staff are exceptional. There is a cost to cuts, and I fear these plans are already taking a toll on our community.”
The room is also where some of the University’s largest cultural celebrations are organised, such as Eid, Holi, and Lunar New Year. These events bring together hundreds of students.
The colleagues who run these events are also at risk of redundancy.
The impact of the Global Room isn’t just on the University but the wider local community. Staff collaborate with community partners including Dundee International Women’s Centre and Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action (DVVA).
“As a front-facing member of staff, I am often the person students turn to when they are struggling, whether with mental health, isolation, or simply needing reassurance and a conversation,” she said. “These small moments of care make a significant difference.”
She is also concerned about how little has been said about the room’s future.
“It is distressing to think that a community space so valued by students may be taken away at a time when there are already limited spaces on campus where students can feel safe, supported, and connected.”
The Global Room is one of several proposed cuts alongside the Botanic Garden, Cooper Gallery, Chaplaincy Centre and some Student Services. The work the room supports, she argues, contributes directly to student retention, wellbeing, and community cohesion.
Some students have argued the proposed cuts would negatively affect their university experience.
“Losing this role, and the roles of colleagues who support students with housing, wellbeing, and English language skills, would leave a substantial gap in support at a time when many students are already facing considerable pressures.”
She is asking elected representatives to raise awareness of the work and the wider implications of reducing student support in higher education.