The Scottish Government has written back to outgoing School President Aaqil Hussain, who represents students of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law, about the proposed cuts at the University of Dundee (UoD).
Dated July 1, the letter was penned by Màiri McAllan MSP on behalf of First Minister John Swinney and herself as Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture, and Gaelic.
Ms. McAllan revealed she had asked the SFC to work with UoD’s leadership and trade unions to find “independent mediation,” wishing to help restore relationships and constructive dialogue for the recovery of UoD’s sustainability and reputation.
The letter also said the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) would work with the University to ensure that its conditions of funding are fully met, especially on the conditions of having “meaningful engagement” with staff and students.
Ms. McAllan reiterated that she had requested Interim Principal Prof. Nigel Seaton to pause the process of the cuts on June 16, just before he made the announcement that kickstarted the ongoing minimum 45-day consultation period.
She wanted a “reasonable delay” for Scottish Ministers to have “reasonable time” to confirm there is sufficient evidence that UoD is fully complying with the SFC’s conditions of funding.
The letter reminded Mr. Hussain that the Scottish Government had pledged up to £62 million funding via the SFC.
The letter further explained:
“The SFC’s role is to monitor the University’s compliance with the conditions of funding and monitor the University’s delivery against the products in those conditions as scrutinised and approved by the University Court.
“These conditions include the requirement for the University to produce a Strategy to Recovery that is the subject of credible and meaningful engagement with students and staff, and adheres to Fair Work First principles.“
Ms. McAllan also points out that UoD retains autonomous decision-making free from government intervention “owing to risks to Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification.”
Nevertheless, Ms. McAllan adds that Ministers have a duty to ensure that public funds are spent appropriately and, in UoD’s case, scrutinise the extent of compliance with funding conditions—and the evidence that SFC’s conclusion was based on.
“In our view further steps are needed at the University to ensure that, when it comes to the point that the University is looking to draw down funds, Ministers are assured that they have fully met the conditions.
“The conditions continue to apply until 31 July 2027 – as does the SFC’s role in overseeing them.“
The Chair of the SFC had already written to the University’s Chair of Court, Esther Robertson, to “emphasise that full and ongoing compliance with the conditions is necessary if funding is to be released.”
Ms. McAllan also noted that compulsory redundancies should only be considered as an option of last resort for universities in receipt of public funds.
Of course, the University is only two weeks into the minimum 45-day consultation period on voluntary redundancies. The Jute Journal understands that the first two consultation meetings have taken place. This period could potentially be extended.
In response to Ms. McAllan’s public statement on June 16 that Prof. Seaton refused the Scottish Government’s request to delay the process of the cuts, a University source had told The Courier:
“There was a call for over 30 minutes this morning (of June 16th) with the Cabinet Secretary and colleagues where we heard their viewpoint. This was shortly before the planned announcement this morning.
“Our decision was to proceed as we felt that was in the best interests of staff and students and the future of the University.“
The Dundee branch of the Universities and Colleges Union (DUCU) had passed a vote of no confidence in the University leadership earlier this year in response to an earlier, separate round of voluntary severance.