University of Dundee Strategic Advisory Taskforce minutes: July 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Sir Alan Langlands, Chair
• Shirley Laing, SG
• Professor Nigel Seaton, University of Dundee
• Tánaiste Custance, University of Dundee student rep
• Martin Boyle, SFC
• Cllr Stuart Hunter, Tay Cities Region Deal
• Claire McPherson, Universities Scotland
• Professor Liz Bacon, Abertay University
• Ester Ruskuc, University of St Andrews
• Simon Hewitt, Dundee and Angus College
• Alison Henderson, Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce
• Jane Martin, Scottish Enterprise
• Kevin Kelman, NHS Education Scotland
• Emma Preston, Union rep
• Mary Senior, Union rep
• Peter Hope-Jones, SG
• Lisa Buchan, SG
• Professor Rory McCrimmon, University of Dundee
• Professor Linda Martindale, University of Dundee
• Andrew Mason, University of Dundee
• Peter Mossey, University of Dundee
• Simon Dunn, NHS

Items and actions

The Chair welcomed everyone and outlined the agenda.

Minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2025 were approved with the additional note that David McLay, Scottish Enterprise, attended virtually on behalf of Jane Martin.

Update on recent events

Action being taken on Gillies Report

• UoD accept all recommendations.
• A formal response, led by the University’s governing body, will be prepared for August and will include some detail.

Parliamentary Statement on funding for UoD

• UoD welcomed the statement of support for the University.
• Financial and political support is important to the University’s recovery.

Progress and timing of Financial Recovery Plan 2 Submission

• The University is preparing an updated University Recovery Plan for early August. 
• The revised plan will encompass wider considerations, not just the financial aspect.
• Lenders will require more detailed financial information and that will be prepared separately.

Changes in the University Court and University Executive Group

• A new Acting Chair has been appointed.

• The process has commenced for appointment of a new permanent Chair.
• Interim post holders have stepped up quickly on commencing roles.
• A number of changes in Court mean there is currently not a full complement of lay members.
• The senior team at UoD is currently understaffed however, the University is in the process of recruiting, including appointing new Vice Principals.

• UoD is confident that a new Finance Director will be sourced in a matter of days.

The intervention of the Scottish Charity Regulator

• OSCR is conducting an investigation. This is underway but timings are to be confirmed.

Further updates from SFC included:

• SFC are sharing lessons learned for the Sector and the Funding Council.
• The report into the effectiveness for the Sector is being finalised.
• SFC are currently supporting colleagues at SG to carry out due diligence.

Comment from Taskforce members included:

• The Gillies report shows serious gaps in governance but which must be addressed.
• Having the right skills in the right roles is vital.
• Finance is a key role and there remains concerns around this, particularly in relation to the rapid departure of the new Interim Director of Finance.
• The role of external auditors warrants further examination.
• There remains anxiety and worry in the staff body although there has been positive response to the VSS. 
• Concern around the impact of VSS and the need to ensure that the right skills are retained.
• Rebuilding trust and addressing culture issues will be a long process.
• The announcement by Cabinet Secretary was made in principle and requires rigorous due diligence to release funding.
• Consultants are being commissioned to support specific elements of this. This is in part because Section 25 has not been invoked before and so there are novel implications for the role of SG which may require specialist advice.
• It was acknowledged that the staff are still struggling with the situation and this needed to be taken account of.
• The interview with The Courier was welcomed in its openness and transparency.
• The new Interim leadership aims to improve communication flow between governing bodies.
• The need for recognition of the impact of the ongoing situation to students and to staff is vital.
• The development of a University Recovery Plan that does not solely focus on the financial aspect is welcome.
• Structural and systemic issues with funding across the sector are recognised.

UoD Strategic Advisory Taskforce Report: draft content and structure

Draft document for discussion was shared in advance. The Chair invited comments both in person and following the meeting by correspondence.

Discussion included:

• Members thanked Chair for the draft.
• Remit of the report and reiterating the Terms of Reference for the Taskforce.
• Aim to be action-oriented.
• Drawing out the strengths of the University and its social and economic impact.
• Links to the Carrington Report.
• Value of education for education’s sake and the value to society.
• Funding models within and across the UK.
• National and international impact as well as local is important to highlight.
• Strong emphasis on collaboration was welcomed and the need for awareness of potential duplication across the post compulsory sector, particularly at transition points.

The final draft of the report is due for the next Taskforce meeting.

Progress on taskforce workshops

Workshops have been well-attended and have generated material to help inform the Taskforce Report.  A written update will be given following the Taskforce meeting.

Medicine, Dentistry, Health Sciences, NHS Tayside, and NHS Education Scotland

Representatives from the University of Dundee, NHS Tayside, and NHS Education for Scotland presented to the group.

The changing demographics and resultant needs have implications for training and education to ensure a workforce and service delivery is fit for the future; move towards a prevention model; and designing services around people and integration across boundaries, with care at home increasing as well as the impact of digital technology.

Links between the University and NHS are already strong;  students engage in practice learning from the earliest stages; academic staff are also NHS employees;  extending reach into more rural areas; impact of work highlighted – including the national screening programmes that are in place;  importance of partnerships and innovation.

Successes of the current provision across disciplines was highlighted including Dundee’s USP that can be built on;  interprofessional education and clinical experience built into the courses from day 1;  continuing strong recruitment; benefit of student-led activity in the community to reach challenging groups; future plans to increase partnerships, develop consultancy agreements, MSc pathways, validation models, CPD opportunities, and visiting scholars.

Unique offering of forensic programmes; overseas registration exams are becoming more popular; social determinants of health are becoming more prominent; focus on prevention;  innovations in remote monitoring and clinical trials.

Widening access to a more diverse workforce and developing advanced practice PG and Doctoral level courses;  worldwide impact of midwifery practice development;  work-integrated learning.

NHS and the HE sector have shared priorities;  workforce pipeline required collaborative working;  alignment in commitment to widening access to health careers and increasing capacity.

Future opportunities in Consultancy, Trans-National Education (TNE), and Partnerships.

Members welcomed the energising effect of the presentations which added the detail to the contribution made by the NHS and HE sector nationally and internationally, and the need for collaboration to optimise the impact of both.

Next steps

The last of the workshops will take place with feedback being used to inform the development of the Taskforce report.

Further comment can be made to the Chair on the report or other aspect so the Taskforce work.

Date of next meeting

17 July at 14 City Square, Dundee.