The former principal of Dundee University has offered a "heartfelt apology" to its students and staff, and said he would "reflect" on returning his £150,000 payoff. Prof Iain Gillespieresigned from the universityin December, shortly after revealing the institution'seight-figure deficitand a warning of hundreds of job losses. He told Holyrood's education committeehe was "not a coward" for walking away but had failed in his role to "take responsibility" as accounting officer and principal. Asked if he was "incompetent or corrupt" Prof Gillespie said: "I'm certainly not corrupt, so I'll have to choose incompetent." The academic was heavily criticised over his role in the university's financial crisis in a recentindependent reportled by Prof Pamela Gillies. The university faces a £35m deficit and is expected tocut 300 rolesthrough a voluntary redundancy scheme. The Gillies Report said Prof Gillespie had an "overbearing leadership style" and a dislike of potentially awkward questioning and confrontations. The professor said the report had been a "forensic piece of work" but he "did not recognise" the description of his management style. The report said the main causes for the university's £35m deficit included poor financial judgement from university management. Prof Gillespie's replacement and former deputy Prof Shane O'Neill resigned immediately following the report's publication last week, along with acting chair of court Tricia Bey. Committee chairman Douglas Ross highlighted the 12 occasions the Gillies report said Prof Gillespie "should have and could have" known about problems earlier. Ross asked if he cared about this at all. Prof Gillespie said he cared "very very deeply", adding: "I admit this is cold comfort. "This is extremely painful for all of us, it's extremely painful to read, extremely painful to reflect, extremely painful to learn the level of our failure." Prof Gillespie told MSPs he accepted the fact that his view of the university's finances were "incorrect" but insisted he did not have "the full picture." Asked by chairman Ross if he was a "coward" for "walking away into the sunset" after "creating this mess", Prof Gillespie replied: "That's for other people to comment on, I don't think I'm a coward." He said he resigned as "the buck stops here" but defended not handing back the six months salary he received after leaving in December. Prof Gillespie explained: "That was a contractual obligation from my employer to me. It was not in my thought process to repay a financial obligation." However, when pushed on the matter of repaying the money, Prof Gillespie said he would "reflect" on it with his family. Prof Gillespie defended trips abroad, saying the university was trying to set up working agreements in Africa to "develop opportunities" in research and "create a welcoming environment" for students arriving in Dundee. Labour MSP Michael Marra put it to him that he was a "good time Charlie" who was "completely inactive" when the finances turned and "couldn't deal with it." Prof Gillespie that was "absolutely not the case". Marra asked if it was right to say Prof Gillespie "bet the future of the whole university and the city" on rapid growth from international students. In reply, he said the university expected continued growth and international student recruitment would go up, but visa changes and other challenges meant that did not happen. Prof Gillespie also told MSPs: On Wednesday, the committee heard evidence from three former members of staff at the university. Dr Jim McGeorge, who resigned as chief operating officer last month by "mutual agreement," denied claims in the Gillies Report that he had "operated in isolation of the facts". Former chair of court, Amanda Millar, who resigned in February, said she was "deeply frustrated and saddened" by the "undoubted pain" of students and university staff. Meanwhile, Peter Fotheringham, who served as the university's director of finance until last October, said his team was "seriously under-resourced," despite the report stating he was "aware in part or totally" of the worsening situation. In written evidence submitted to the committee, the university's ex-vice principal international, former MSP Wendy Alexanderclaimed she was asked to leave her postafter asking "difficult" questions about its finances.
'Incompetent' former university boss considers returning £150,000 payout
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Former Dundee University Principal Considers Returning Severance Amid Financial Crisis"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Prof. Iain Gillespie, the former principal of Dundee University, has issued a heartfelt apology to students and staff while contemplating the return of his £150,000 severance package. His resignation in December followed the alarming revelation of the university's substantial eight-figure deficit and the impending risk of hundreds of job losses. During a session with Holyrood's education committee, Gillespie expressed that he does not consider himself corrupt but acknowledged a failure in his role, stating that he would have to accept the label of incompetence. An independent report led by Prof. Pamela Gillies criticized his leadership style and highlighted significant lapses in financial judgment that contributed to the university's current £35 million deficit. The report also indicated that Gillespie's management approach was characterized by an aversion to difficult questions and confrontations, a claim he rejected despite acknowledging the report as a thorough analysis of the situation.
The fallout from the financial crisis has led to the resignation of Gillespie's successor, Prof. Shane O'Neill, and acting chair of court Tricia Bey, following the publication of the Gillies report. Committee chairman Douglas Ross pointed out that Gillespie had multiple opportunities to address the financial issues earlier, raising questions about his commitment to the university's wellbeing. Gillespie admitted to having an incorrect understanding of the financial landscape but insisted he did not possess the complete picture at the time. He defended his six-month severance pay as a contractual obligation and did not initially plan to repay it. However, he stated that he would reflect on the matter with his family when pressed. Furthermore, Gillespie defended his international trips aimed at establishing research opportunities in Africa, countering criticism that he neglected the university's financial troubles during a period of rapid growth. Former university staff members also provided testimony, with one describing a lack of resources in the finance department and others expressing frustration over the management's handling of the financial crisis, further complicating the narrative of accountability at Dundee University.
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