University of Dundee Strategic Advisory Taskforce minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Sir Alan Langlands, Chair
• Neil Rennick, Scottish Government (SG)
• Colin Cook, SG
• Dr David McBeth, University of Dundee
• Professor Nigel Seaton, University of Dundee
• New Student Rep, University of Dundee Student Rep
• Francesca Osowska, Scottish Funding Council (SFC)
• Cat Ball, SFC
• Cllr Stuart Hunter, Tay Cities Region Deal
• Professor Liz Bacon, Abertay University
• Simon Hewitt, Dundee & Angus College
• Alison Henderson, Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce
• David McLay (dial in), Scottish Enterprise
• Lesley English, Developing the Young Workforce
• Evonne Boyd, Skills Development Scotland
• Kevin Kelman, NHS Education Scotland
• Catherine Cavanagh, Union rep
• Katrina Currie, Union rep
• Mary Senior, Union rep
• Peter Hope-Jones, SG
• Lisa Buchan, SG

Items and actions

Meeting started at 13:55, attendees welcomed and introductions made.

Minutes of previous meetings were circulated.  Amendments identified and will be published on gov.scot.

Next steps: Engagement on the Financial Recovery Plan

The Chair (AL) reiterated the need to recognise the autonomy of the university and highlighted that legal and commercial issues presented limits on what can be shared with the group. However, reassurance was given that regular briefings on the progress of the recovery were being provided to the Chair by the University.  

The Interim Principal, Shane O’Neill (SON) presented the current update to the group including:

• The university want to demonstrate progress and to move forward.
• Gap funding has been identified in addition to the staff cost reductions.
• There will be minimal reserves remaining.
• The University is engaging with the banks and commercial lenders
• A high-level, confidence-building document to set out the vision is being produced to illustrate the recovery plan, including milestones towards the appropriate size and shape of the University for the future.
• Steps include establishing a financial recovery board with the right skills being seconded in.
• New interim Provost and Head of Finance have been appointed.
• Scenario planning is continuing.
• SG funding cannot be used for the VS scheme.
• The proposal for taskforce workshops to be set up is a rich opportunity for all representative organisations to collaborate for the benefit of the city and region.

An update from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) was given, highlighting the following:

• SFC is currently engaged in a key piece of work to scrutinise the financial ask to support a revised Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) which was received last week, ensuring due diligence and proper governance ahead of submitting it to the SG to request support to SFC.  This is to assure ministers of value for money and the robustness of the request.
• SFC continues to support the University, for example by supporting Court, committees, and giving input where issues arise.
• SFC welcome the Vision document.
• The role of the Taskforce can be to provide a richness to the thinking for the future, bringing out the expertise of the members.
• The Gillies Report is due to be published mid-June for which SFC have statutory duties to fulfil in relation to the findings.
• Scenario planning has been continuing.

The Chair opened the floor for questions.

Several points were raised including:

• Recognition that the VS scheme was ready for launch.
• Acknowledgement of the continuing anxiety and frustration of staff but welcomed the progress being made.
• Highlighting the autonomy of UoD and the roles of SFC and Taskforce, with a request that staff are reassured that the taskforce have not and will not sign off any approaches employed by the University.
• Once agreed, the minutes will be published on the website which will provide transparency.

The Chair reiterated that the Terms of Reference are clear in that the Taskforce should not be involved in the governance of the University.

Action:  SON to provide clarity to staff on the role of the taskforce.

Further discussion took place on:

• Indications of recruitment numbers including international students.
• VSS aiming for a reduction in staffing of 300 while monitoring the ongoing impact of student recruitment, income generation, cost pressures increases.
• By September, a more substantive update will be available.

Next steps: Programme of workshops

The proposal was introduced for a set of workshops to support the University in developing its thinking around financial sustainability.  The aim being to bring together smaller groups to facilitate detailed discussions and report back to the taskforce.  Each topic would provide a clear focus and feed into the final report of the Taskforce.  The topics were identified by the University and align with the ToR:

• Income generation
• Shared services
• Dundee city, region and community
• Regional and national skills base
• Future vision for research

The group agreed this approach would be productive while being cognisant of the time constraints.

While suggestions for attendees at these were welcomed, it was made clear that the University would assume ownership to lead the input.  SG officials will facilitate their implementation.

The Chair highlighted that the Taskforce’s role is to complement the existing mechanisms and partnerships that are in place.   

Life Sciences

A presentation was given, with introductions by the interim Provost and the VP Enterprise and Economic Transformation, by Professor Sir Michael Ferguson which included:

• Life sciences as a vehicle of opportunity and potential for nontraditional sources of funding and place based investment.
• Subject and industry sector subjects play a large part.
• The priority given to life sciences in UKG revised industrial strategies and in the Scottish National Innovation strategy.
• Strong focus on entrepreneurial-ship.
• Highlighting the relationships with industry sectors, the positive international relationships already in place, and the sustained engagement with investors.
• Context of UoD’s Life Sciences:  c.820 scientists, staff and PhD students; income generation around £50m p/a;  highly interdisciplinary and translational.
• Challenges presented by the large externally-funded staff base and the resultant cost of administering which lies with the university.
• Huge societal impact in terms of jobs, wealth and health creation.
• R&D funding from industry is due to having world-renowned researchers
• Reach and impact internationally, foreign investment, flexibility to work with industry partners, and the resulting impact on the community was highlighted.
• Impact of Growth Deals supporting retention of spin-outs in the region.
• Working with D&A college and creating jobs in the region.
• The vision is to create a ‘Northern Star’.

Discussion followed on:

• Challenge to meeting overheads re cost of delivery v income received.
• Sources of income and the challenges with lack of regular/predictable income makes it difficult to budget for.
• Most of the funding comes from UKRI or charities.
• Funding gap based on being located in Scotland.
• Need for ensuring the balance is right in terms of the size and shape of the University.
• Recognition that it is essential that excellence is maintained.
• Data sources HESA 22/23 and REF 2021.
• UKG – golden triangle focus – recognition for Scottish universities could be supported by the ‘Northern Star’ approach to be Scotland’s offer in Life Sciences through a federation with rewards for working together.
• Place based funding is important, and the impact can be highlighted.
• A wider discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of the current funding landscape and how to maximise collaboration.
• Economic and social impact, and national and international leadership were noted as key messages that can be built on.

Any other business

Future meetings were discussed with the need to reschedule the planned meeting for the 17 June to allow for workshops to take place across the last two weeks of June. The Taskforce will meet next at the beginning of July with dates confirmed as soon as possible.

The Chair thanked all for their contributions and the meeting concluded at 16:20.