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Under-fire Dundee University principal resigns

University of Dundee Prof Iain Gillespie in a blue suit and brown tie and wearing glasses, leans on a wall outside a university buildingUniversity of Dundee
Prof Iain Gillespie has been principal of Dundee University since 2021

The principal of Dundee University has resigned, days after the institution defended a £7,000 business trip he took to Hong Kong with a colleague.

The university said Prof Iain Gillespie had stood down as principal and vice chancellor with immediate effect.

Prof Gillespie had held the roles since January 2021.

Last month he told staff in an email that job cuts were "inevitable" as the university faces a potential deficit of £30m in the next financial year.

Last week it was reported that the Hong Kong trip for Prof Gillespie and another staff member last year cost £7,154 in flights and accommodation.

The university said its chair of court had previously agreed that Prof Gillespie could travel premier economy or business class for long-haul flights.

He travelled business class from Edinburgh to Hong Kong at a cost of £4,723, while his colleague flew on a cheaper fare of £1,067.

It was also reported that business class flights for a forthcoming trip to China and Dubai were booked at a cost of more than £8,300 before being cancelled and rebooked with lower cost premium economy flights.

The university said its activity in China was "a major part" of its global strategy which it said brought in millions of pounds a year through "student recruitment and in-country education and collaboration".

A large silver sign with a crest and the words University of Dundee attached to a stone building
The university faces a potential deficit of £30m in the next financial year

One of Prof Gillespie's last public appearances in the role was delivering the vote of thanks to Sue Black, Baroness Black of Strome, following her Margaret Harris Lecture at the university last Friday.

In an all-staff email last month, Prof Iain Gillespie said the university was planning for "a significant deficit" in the wake of "an extremely challenging period" for the UK higher education sector.

He said that despite a recruitment freeze and reducing operational expenditure, the university was still looking at a deficit of between £25m and £30m next year.

He added: "This will be a very difficult period, certainly for this financial year and next."

In an email to staff confirming Prof Gillespie's resignation, the university's chair of court Amanda Millar said the institution was "facing significant challenges to our financial sustainability."

Ms Millar added: "The university leadership group has been working intensively over recent weeks to develop a recovery plan to address this situation.

"Prof Shane O'Neill, as deputy vice-chancellor and provost, will take on the leadership of the University Executive Group.

"I am optimistic that they, working closely with our court, will re-establish a more stable financial foundation to allow the university to flourish again."