Connor Bertie, Eva Milne and Nick Whelan
Expanding on the recovery plan that was met with campus-wide rejection, Principal O’Neill has announced, in a letter to the convenor of the education committee, around 700 people will be affected by compulsory redundancies.
It has been revealed that the initial proposal of 632 job losses was not entirely accurate, as that figure is associated not just with individual positions, but with positions that equate to 632 Full Time Employment (or FTE) roles as well. What this means is that part-time roles, in whatever capacity, where 2 or more add up to a full-time position, will count only as a single FTE role, and so the total number of redundancies will be much higher than 632.
Media outlets today such as STV news have estimated that around 700 people will be affected by the 632 FTE redundancies, with other outlets stating that it will be much higher.
In denial of the latter, Principal O’Neill stated in an email earlier today that “there is no change in the projected number of job reductions in the plan, in spite of media reports today.” However, it was Principal O’Neill that noted in the email to the convenor that around 700 people will be affected, on estimate.
As to the validity of this statement, that remains to be seen; however, the principal also stated that he “cannot confirm the headcount impact.”
Furthermore, O’Neill announced which departments within the 8 schools would be affected in module reductions:
Safe: Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Education and Social Work.
Under Threat: Business, Life Sciences, Humanities, Geography, Art and Design, Computing, Mathematics, and Physics.
At minimum, 15% of modules will be cut across all under threat, but the UEG aims to increase that figure to 20% if they deem it necessary, with a focus on all modules that they consider having reduced enrolment and decreased ‘efficiency’ within.
It is uncertain whether this will mean a cut of modules altogether within the schools under threat, a decrease in contact time between staff and students, or a decrease in assignments; perhaps a combination of all three. These potential measures will ease pressure off staff members who do not face redundancy, but will possibly negatively impact the university experience of Dundee’s students.
In the letter, O’Neill shared the financial analysis of the deficit, attributing it to “challenges around international recruitment, increasing staff costs, high costs of research intensity and inflationary pressures on other operating costs”.
However, the letter also notes the IT write-offs between 2016 and 2024 which amounted to £7.8 million, which equates to 38% of the capital expenditure on software projects at the time.
O’Neill’s letter to the education committee clarifies points which members of the UEG made during the first enquiry in March. The committee has called on previous members of the UEG to attend the second enquiry in order to establish how the university has arrived at this position. Despite calls from students and staff, as well as MSP’s, former Principal, Iain Gillespie and former Chief Operating Officer, Jim McGeorge are unable to attend and are not required to do so.
The date of the second enquiry is yet to be announced, however will likely take place in late April or early May. The exact date will be announced a week prior to the enquiry.
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