Principal O'Neill Delivers Embarrassment in Parliament

Eva Milne and Connor Bertie

Education Committee left SPEECHLESS in today’s enquiry as Acting Chair of Court, Tricia Bey, admitted ‘insolvency is a real possibility’, alluding to the potential liquidation of Dundee University and its assets.

(Left to Right) Director of Finance Helen Simpson, VP Education Blair Grubb, Principal Shane O'Neill, and Court Chair Tricia Bey.

This morning members of the University Executive Group (UEG) attended an enquiry at Holyrood which asked the tough questions; how have things gotten so bad?

Interim Principal Shane O’Neill, VP (Education) Blair Grubb, Interim Director of Finance, Helen Simpson, and Acting Chair of Court, Tricia Bey, were questioned by the Parliament Education Committee.

The enquiry questioned the financial recovery plan, specifically alternative solutions to the 632 redundancies, the reality of the restructuring of eight schools to three faculties, the funding required from the Scottish Funding Committee (SFC), the UEG’s lack of consultation with staff and students, and the lack of checks and balances within the UEG which has allowed this this level of crisis to occur.

A critical question proposed to the UEG, was why they did not question the leadership of deserter ex-Principal Iain Gillespie. Why were questions not asked in the past year amidst the lead up to the deficit announcement in November? It has taken four months for a recovery plan to be present. MSP Joe Fitzpatrick said,

‘the current proposals are simply unacceptable’.

O’Neill proposed three possible outcomes of the crisis; scenario A remains as the proposed recovery plan, where schools downsize and 632 staff redundancies. Scenario B, said O’Neill, ‘would be a form of murder, a breakup with the recognizable institution we are now’. Scenario C was put blatantly, as O’Neill said, ‘we would cease to exist’.

Bey said that if this recovery plan is not adhered to ‘the university will run out of cash by the end of June’.

Within the highly charged and confrontational environment there were heated exchanges between the UEG and the education committee about the lack of financial information and about when and how the financial problems were communications. The committee pressured the UEG about the tension between previous financial statements, which showed stability, and the current crisis.

The committee interrogated the minimal engagement and contributions of staff, students and unions during the assembling of the plan. When directly questioned about the contributions of those outside the UEG, it was the suggested that while they’ve provided minimal updates via email,

no staff or students directly contributed to the plan which dictates the future of their academic careers. 

When asked if the UEG will consult with students and staff, O’Neill reluctantly said, ‘we can do that’.

The UEG consistently avoided answering the questions with concise response and the committee continued to hassle the UEG regarding their incompetent leadership. The committee left the UEG speechless when they asked why they are advertising for a transformation manager, who will earn £200k, whilst cutting 632 jobs. The UEG confirmed that this post has been cancelled, due to the mass criticism.  

A further question was raised by MSP, Michael Marra, about the lack of awareness surrounding the absence of international students from Nigeria in 2023. 1300 students failed to show up for enrolment after the 70% collapse of the Nira between 2022 and 2023; despite this, the UEG failed to consider or inquire that “these students weren’t coming”.

To put in context, at an average of £32,000 international student fees per year across all schools, the University potentially lost £41.6m in a single year during this period.

The enquiry has answered much needed questions which have been raised by staff and students during the past months. The committee held the UEG accountable for the current crisis and questioned why those who have not created the crisis are unfairly suffering?

With regard to the next steps, the committee insisted that the UEG publish the July 2024 audited accounts, investigate the circumstances around the previous financial statements, and continue with the independent investigation whilst including a list of those who must give evidence of the events which has led to the crisis.

The committee asked that a comprehensive recovery plan is to be presented as soon as possible, which considers the livelihoods of current and future staff and students.