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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| University agrees cutback scheme | University agrees cutback scheme |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dundee University court has agreed by 11 votes to five to accept a plan that could lead to some departments being reduced and job cuts. | Dundee University court has agreed by 11 votes to five to accept a plan that could lead to some departments being reduced and job cuts. |
| The plan was drawn up to reduce the university's ongoing budget deficit, currently estimated at more than £1.5m. | The plan was drawn up to reduce the university's ongoing budget deficit, currently estimated at more than £1.5m. |
| Like other Scottish universities, Dundee is growing, but it also faces mounting financial pressures. | Like other Scottish universities, Dundee is growing, but it also faces mounting financial pressures. |
| The university, which will now discuss the plan with the unions, said it would try to avoid compulsory redundancies. | The university, which will now discuss the plan with the unions, said it would try to avoid compulsory redundancies. |
| It has been estimated that annual staffing costs will rise by 5% more than had previously been budgeted. | It has been estimated that annual staffing costs will rise by 5% more than had previously been budgeted. |
| The plan recommends reducing the size of several departments, such as town and regional planning, modern languages and community education. | The plan recommends reducing the size of several departments, such as town and regional planning, modern languages and community education. |
| I reiterate our commitment to students, to staff and to the wider community in taking these measures forward Sir Alan LanglandsUniversity principal | I reiterate our commitment to students, to staff and to the wider community in taking these measures forward Sir Alan LanglandsUniversity principal |
| Savings are also being sought in support services and in the estates - and could see the Botanic Gardens being sold off. | Savings are also being sought in support services and in the estates - and could see the Botanic Gardens being sold off. |
| The university said that in 2005-06 it recorded a budget deficit of £1.6m and for 2006-07 it projects an underlying budget deficit of at least £1.6m. | The university said that in 2005-06 it recorded a budget deficit of £1.6m and for 2006-07 it projects an underlying budget deficit of at least £1.6m. |
| After the vote, university principal, Sir Alan Langlands, said: "We have a challenging time ahead - in common with other Scottish universities - but I am confident that the University Court has taken the right decision and these measures will secure Dundee's continued success to the ultimate benefit of students and staff. | After the vote, university principal, Sir Alan Langlands, said: "We have a challenging time ahead - in common with other Scottish universities - but I am confident that the University Court has taken the right decision and these measures will secure Dundee's continued success to the ultimate benefit of students and staff. |
| "Universities are among society's most resilient institutions due to their capacity to continuously redefine their relationship to a changing world. | "Universities are among society's most resilient institutions due to their capacity to continuously redefine their relationship to a changing world. |
| "I reiterate our commitment to students, to staff and to the wider community in taking these measures forward." | "I reiterate our commitment to students, to staff and to the wider community in taking these measures forward." |
| 'Quite premature' | |
| The university rector, former diplomat Craig Murray, opposes the cuts. | The university rector, former diplomat Craig Murray, opposes the cuts. |
| He said: "This tendency, particularly at Dundee University, to expand the layers of bureaucracy while looking at cutting academic tradition, is not something that benefits students or the wider community." | He said: "This tendency, particularly at Dundee University, to expand the layers of bureaucracy while looking at cutting academic tradition, is not something that benefits students or the wider community." |
| James Alexander, president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: "It's quite premature for universities to be deciding their long-term financial future right before the Scottish elections and the spending review." | James Alexander, president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: "It's quite premature for universities to be deciding their long-term financial future right before the Scottish elections and the spending review." |