New Short-Term Interim Principal Announced

By Nick Whelan

Following the shock resignation of Shane O’Neill, the university has appointed Professor Nigel Seaton as Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor on a short-term basis.

Seaton joined the university in May serving as the Interim Provost. The University Provost is considered the chief academic officer with a broad range of responsibilities.  

Seaton has had an extensive career in the higher education sector, notably, as Scotland’s longest serving Principal and Vice-Chancellor posted at Abertay University, with 10 years of service.

In the announcement, he said:

“I feel honoured to be asked to take on the role of Interim Principal of the University of Dundee, an institution that does great things for its students, for Dundee and the wider region, and for society more generally.

“The University faces considerable challenges in its recovery from a difficult financial position, and from what I know has been a very difficult period for staff. I am ready to work with my colleagues and with the University Court to set the University on its way to a sustainable and successful future.

“In all this, we should not lose sight of the things that make this university such a great place. Prime among those is Graduation, and I look forward to playing a part in the ceremonies next week to celebrate the achievements of our wonderful graduates.”

Professor Seaton is expected to take on much of the ceremonial roles next week at graduation and will be ‘looking to create opportunities for engagement with staff at the earliest opportunity’.

As of now, it is unclear who is to take over on a longer-term basis. Whoever takes over will face significant challenges in the wake of the revelations uncovered by the Gillies Report.  

It is also clear that attitudes towards senior management of the university have long since soured from staff, students and the wider Dundee community.  

It appears the game of management musical chairs is not yet over.