The Jute Journal

Before you catch Freshers’ Flu, catch up on your weekly news recap from The Jute Journal Team. Protest Signage outside Bonar Hall. Image: Mathew Rees • The University Court approved Voluntary and Compulsory Redundancies at its meeting on 8th September, setting out a staff reduction of 154. Members of Parliament, Union Heads, University staff, and students had all voiced concerns on the consultation period preceding the Court’s decision.

The University Court approved Voluntary and Compulsory Redundancies at its meeting today, which sets out a staff reduction of 154. Almost two years after the University’s financial issues were made public, Court has approved the third round of Voluntary Redundancies. The University is now close to losing 1000 staff over the last two years, either through Voluntary Redundancies or through staff leaving and not being replaced.

Court members at the University of Dundee have been told to accept decisions passed by Court or “have the option to resign”. University Court members were reminded of their collective responsibility at the Court meeting on 16th July, along with emails sent to Court members after the passing of the Strategy to Recovery had been approved on 9th June. Collective responsibility is the duty of a Court Member to uphold decisions passed by Court.

Court is set to vote on the final proposals from the Strategy to Recovery, voluntary redundancies and compulsory redundancies tomorrow, Tuesday 8 September. Unions and students plan to protest outside of this court session, on the edge of campus. Dundee Trades Union Council, Dundee University and College Union (DUCU) and Students Against Cuts (SAC) have all organised a protest outside Bonar Hall, where Court will meet on 8 September.

Fall-ing behing on the news? Welcome back to your weekly news recap from The Jute Journal Team. Dalhousie Building. Image: Sean Kwok • The University has been accused of cutting more staff than first set out in Strategy to Recovery. In an open letter to the First Minister, John Swinney, Dundee University and College Union claim that cutting a further 154 FTE will take the University below its original goal in the Strategy to Recovery.

First Minister John Swinney has presented his Programme for the Scottish Government for 2026 to 2031. This includes cutting 9 NHS mainland health boards, reducing the number from 11 to 2. The plan is to merge the existing boards into East and West Scotland, with separate plans for Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles.

Following the announcement of the reduction of the Voluntary Redundancies from 187 to 154 Full Time Equivalent (FTE), Dundee University and College Union (DUCU) have argued that this doesn’t properly represent the actual number of staff leaving their roles. This week DUCU published an open letter to the First Minister, John Swinney.

The Philosophy programme at the University of Dundee will continue to exist in the form of three joint honours pathways, and Philosophy have furthermore been given the opportunity to develop new undergraduate and postgraduate pathways for future academic sessions. The programme have received international backing over the summer as they had faced total closure. All currently enrolled philosophy students will see their courses run until completion.

Welcome back to your weekly news recap from The Jute Journal Team. Pouring ourselves ‘a cup of ambition’, we serve this week’s headline’s fresh. Tower building, Perth Road. Image: Mathew Rees • The University reworked its proposals following the end of the consultation period. The proposals envisaged reducing staffing by around 190 posts, that has been reduced to 154.

Law and Business, which face staff cuts at Dundee, could partner with a Chinese university whose partnership with a Dutch university was cut short over genocide denial. The University of Dundee’s (UoD) revised restructuring proposals, which still include cuts to staffing across faculties, are set to be presented to University Court on 8th September for approval.