Latest news with #PamelaGillies
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Dundee University admits 'clear failings' over damning report
Dundee University has published its response to a damning report into the institution's financial collapse that led to a £22m government university said that the Gillies Report, which was published in June, had highlighted "clear failings in financial monitoring, management and governance".It has issued a 65-point action plan including daily cash flow monitoring, cancelling or deferring non-essential capital projects, and training in "financial literacy" for all members of the university's executive group, court and university also said that it had received 434 applications for its voluntary severance scheme. Dundee University said the independent report by Prof Pamela Gillies had been a "chastening experience and triggered a time for deep self-reflection". The university, which currently faces a £35m deficit, said that its "proposed route forward" would require "significant additional public funding".It received £22m from the Scottish Funding Council in February and will receive an additional £40m from the Scottish government over the next two academic university is looking to shed 300 roles through the voluntary scheme, after initially forecasting about 700 jobs would go. The Gillies Report savaged the university's former leadership team, including Prof Iain Gillespie, who resigned last found that Prof Gillespie, ex-interim principal Prof Shane O'Neill, and previous chief operating officer Jim McGeorge had acted as a "triumvirate", making decisions among also questioned the quality of information about the university's finances given to other senior report said university bosses and its governing body failed multiple times to identify the worsening crisis and continued to overspend instead of taking said the problems were "self-inflicted" and it should have been clear to senior members of the university that its financial position "was worse than presented". The university has now published its official response to the acknowledged there had been "a complete breakdown in cash management and expenditure control at the senior level of the organisation".It added: "While there were significant external factors, which had affected the higher education sector across the UK to varying degrees, the university's response to these, and responsible management of our finances, had fallen well short of the standards that everyone should have expected."However, it admitted that the situation was exacerbated by "over-reliance on the director of finance for strategic financial decisions, without sufficient independent challenge".It said members of the University Executive Group (UEG) were focused on their own portfolios, with "limited cross-functional financial accountability".The university said that the Gillies Report was clear on the "dominant nature of the most senior leadership in the university." It added: "This led to a hierarchical culture, characterised by hubris, the suppression of dissent, and fear of speaking out, resulting in an inability for staff to challenge constructively." 'Chastening experience' The university is proposing a series of actions that will be taken in the short, medium and long term, designed to ensure the university has a sustainable include daily cash flow monitoring and the implementation of further cost controls to reduce discretionary spending, such as principal Prof Gillespie was criticised last year for making costly trips abroad, including a £7,000 trip to Hong university said a new monthly management reporting process had been implemented to ensure that "management accounts are formally presented to senior management and the university court." There are also proposals to overhaul the court and to appoint a permanent principal with "experience of transformation and change and with a people-focused leadership style".It will also schedule a programme of monthly "town-hall" events to listen to the "concerns, hopes and ideas of staff and students."The response concluded by saying: "The circumstances surrounding the Gillies Report have been a chastening experience and triggered a time for deep self-reflection. "They present a unique opportunity to renew and refresh the university's covenant with its community—staff, students, alumni, the court, research partners, third party stakeholders, and the city of Dundee."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dundee University ‘fell well short', says interim boss in response to report
Previous management at the University of Dundee 'fell well short' of the standards expected of them, the interim boss has said in his response to a damning report. Former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies was asked to look into the culture, leadership and financial management at Dundee earlier this year after a £35 million black hole was discovered, leading the institution to consider cutting hundreds of jobs. The report found former principal Professor Iain Gillespie, who has since resigned, ex-interim principal Professor Shane O'Neill, and previous chief operating officer Jim McGeorge had acted as a 'triumvirate', making decisions amongst themselves, and it also questioned the quality of information about the university's finances given to other senior officials. In publishing the university's response to the report on Wednesday, interim principal Professor Nigel Seaton said: 'It was evident from the Gillies report that there had been clear failings in financial monitoring, leadership, and governance at the university. 'The entire UK higher education sector has been forced to deal with significant external factors in recent years but our university's response to these, and its management of finances, fell well short of the standards that everyone should have expected.' Dr Ian Mair, the acting chairman of the university court, said: 'The actions we propose to take in the short, medium and long term are designed to ensure the university has a sustainable future built upon strong governance, financial competence, transparency, and accountability. 'Our response provides detailed assurances to our stakeholders that the immediate, robust, and impactful action required to implement significant operational and cultural change is under way.' The response looked at the financial dealings of the university, its culture and governance, laying out short, medium and long-term actions to ensure its improvement. The appointment of a permanent principal, chief financial officer and chief operating officer could take up to 18 months, according to the response, which puts the hiring of the three roles in the 'longer term (12-18 months)' category. The replacement principal, the response said, must have 'experience of transformation and change and with a people-focused leadership style'. Prof Gillespie was criticised in the Gillies report for not consulting with staff, as well accusing him of 'hubris' in his leadership and being unable to take criticism. In the next six months, it is hoped a new chairman of the university court can be found, along with regular members of the body, including those with 'financial skills and experience'. The university said it will cancel or defer all 'non-essential capital projects' and use financial modelling to devise rolling five-year budget forecasts for key areas to get back on its feet financially. The response also pledged to listen more to staff and students, with a number of events already being planned to do so.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Dundee University ‘fell well short', says interim boss in response to report
Previous management at the University of Dundee 'fell well short' of the standards expected of them, the interim boss has said in his response to a damning report. Former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies was asked to look into the culture, leadership and financial management at Dundee earlier this year after a £35 million black hole was discovered, leading the institution to consider cutting hundreds of jobs. The report found former principal Professor Iain Gillespie, who has since resigned, ex-interim principal Professor Shane O'Neill, and previous chief operating officer Jim McGeorge had acted as a 'triumvirate', making decisions amongst themselves, and it also questioned the quality of information about the university's finances given to other senior officials. In publishing the university's response to the report on Wednesday, interim principal Professor Nigel Seaton said: 'It was evident from the Gillies report that there had been clear failings in financial monitoring, leadership, and governance at the university. 'The entire UK higher education sector has been forced to deal with significant external factors in recent years but our university's response to these, and its management of finances, fell well short of the standards that everyone should have expected.' Dr Ian Mair, the acting chairman of the university court, said: 'The actions we propose to take in the short, medium and long term are designed to ensure the university has a sustainable future built upon strong governance, financial competence, transparency, and accountability. 'Our response provides detailed assurances to our stakeholders that the immediate, robust, and impactful action required to implement significant operational and cultural change is under way.' The response looked at the financial dealings of the university, its culture and governance, laying out short, medium and long-term actions to ensure its improvement. The appointment of a permanent principal, chief financial officer and chief operating officer could take up to 18 months, according to the response, which puts the hiring of the three roles in the 'longer term (12-18 months)' category. The replacement principal, the response said, must have 'experience of transformation and change and with a people-focused leadership style'. Prof Gillespie was criticised in the Gillies report for not consulting with staff, as well accusing him of 'hubris' in his leadership and being unable to take criticism. In the next six months, it is hoped a new chairman of the university court can be found, along with regular members of the body, including those with 'financial skills and experience'. The university said it will cancel or defer all 'non-essential capital projects' and use financial modelling to devise rolling five-year budget forecasts for key areas to get back on its feet financially. The response also pledged to listen more to staff and students, with a number of events already being planned to do so.
Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Times
Ex-Dundee University chief feels the pain of Holyrood mauling
Y ou watch mesmerised, but also a little nauseous, when a Holyrood committee lays into one of its victims. It's like seeing a ring of jackals circling a wounded gazelle. One after the other they lunge in and snap at the wretched creature. You know it doesn't stand a chance, but it's hard to take your eyes off its death throes. Thus it was that Professor Iain Gillespie, former principal of Dundee University, whose leadership, or lack of it, exposed that institution to a £35 million debt, the loss of 300 jobs, and even possible closure, faced Holyrood's education committee. His attackers brushed off the 'heartfelt apologies' he offered for what had happened, and gathered for the attack. Jackal-in-chief Douglas Ross, the committee convener, listed Gillespie's failings: 'hubris … overbearing behaviour … dangerous over-confidence … arrogance'. These, he said, were only some of the conclusions of Professor Pamela Gillies, whose independent report revealed a catalogue of failures.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Swinney: Reasonable for ex-Dundee University principal to return £150,000 payout
First Minister John Swinney has said it would be 'reasonable' for a former principal of the cash-strapped University of Dundee to return a £150,000 payment he received when he stepped down. Professor Iain Gillespie told MSPs on Thursday it was not in his 'thought process' to hand back the cash, although he accepted the 'buck stops with me' for the university's difficulties. He stepped down from his post at the university – which is looking to cut hundreds of posts as it tries to deal with a £35 million deficit – in December. He told Holyrood's Education Committee, which is examining the difficulties faced by the institution, that the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the cash. Prof Gillespie insisted it was 'not in my thought process to repay a contractual obligation to me for my work at the university' – although he added later he would 'reflect' on the matter. Mr Swinney however later insisted: 'I think that would be the right thing to do because the University of Dundee is facing an acute challenge.' A report into the situation at Dundee by former Glasgow Caledonian University principal Professor Pamela Gillies last week heavily criticised Prof Gillespie. Asked if Prof Gillespie should give back the money, the First Minister said: 'Given the awfulness of the Gillies review of the handling of the finances of the University of Dundee, I think that would be a reasonable thing to do.' His comments came after Education Committee convener Douglas Ross branded Prof Gillespie a 'coward' and accused him of having 'created this mess and walked away into the sunset'. Pressing the former principal over his time in charge, Mr Ross asked him if he was 'incompetent or corrupt' – with him replying he was 'certainly not corrupt' so he would 'have to choose incompetent'. Prof Gillespie began his evidence to the committee with a 'heartfelt apology' to staff and students at Dundee – which is to receive an additional £40 million from the Scottish Government to help its financial situation. 'Let me start off with an apology to the staff and students,' he told MSPs. 'I think staff and students deserve better than they have had with the management and the governance of the University of Dundee over quite some time, but particularly over the period of 2024. 'It's a heartfelt apology for a university that I love, and a city that I hugely respect. 'I accept the buck stops with me. That is why at the end of last year I left.' Mr Ross said the Gillies report showed Prof Gillespie had 'dangerous over self-confidence and complacency', and an 'overbearing leadership style'. Prof Gillespie said that description was 'not something I recognise' – although he later told how a complaint had been made against him in a previous job at the Natural Environment Research Council about his 'overbearing behaviour'. Prof Gillespie stepped down as principal at the University of Dundee in December, recalling this happened after others at the institution told him they had 'no confidence' in his leadership. He told MSPs it was 'possible' he had then resigned by text – though he said he may instead have sent an email confirming his decision. Mr Ross told him: 'The only thing I thought about you was you are a coward. 'You couldn't go back to the university and face the staff who were losing their jobs, face the students whose studies were so badly disrupted. 'You just created this mess and walked away into the sunset.' Challenging him on the payout, Mr Ross told Prof Gillespie he had been given 'over £150,000 to walk away from a university you almost destroyed'. He asked the former principal: 'At any point have you considered paying that money back?' Prof Gillespie said the university had a 'contractual obligation' to pay him the money. While he said he took 'overall management responsibility for what happened at the University of Dundee', he told Mr Ross he would 'push back' against the claim that he 'almost destroyed it'. Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie also pressed for Prof Gillespie to give back the money. He told the former principal: 'To hold on to that just seems astonishing with the pain other people are feeling. 'I just genuinely want you to think about that, because I think it would send an important message. 'It wouldn't repair the damage but it would send an important message.' Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said giving back the money could be a way for Prof Gillespie to 'send a message to students, to the staff who are left at Dundee, that you understand your role in this saga'. The former principal told him: 'You are one of several members of the committee who have suggested that and I will reflect on that.' Prof Gillespie also hit back at claims from former Holyrood minister Wendy Alexander, who was vice-principal international at the university for almost a decade. In a submission to the committee, Baroness Alexander had said she was 'frozen out' and then 'asked to leave' her post after raising concerns about university finances. Prof Gillespie insisted he did 'not want to get into a slagging match about people's characters', he told MSPs: 'Wendy's performance in terms of delivering student numbers wasn't what we needed it to be.'
