The principal of Dundee University has admitted it has been through “a tough few months” as it seeks to shed academic staff.
Professor Pete Downes insisted, however, that action had been needed to get the institution’s finances in shape, although a deficit for 2014/15 is expected.
Members of the University and Collge Union, representing academics, have taken part in industrial action, including a work-to-contract campaign announced last month, in protest at plans to reduce headcount by between 80 and 120.
Writing on his blog, Prof Downes said: “It has of course been a tough few months with the introduction of a voluntary severance scheme aimed at delivering the cuts in academic staff we need, alongside aggressive income generation targets, to return the university to a healthy financial surplus.
“Our financial goals are there for a reason to provide the best possible working conditions and environment for our staff and students and to ensure we can determine our own destiny by investing in our future.
“To return the university to a healthy financial surplus requires significant investment in activities that will increase income from unregulated sources alongside the cuts in staff costs that are currently being implemented.”
Prof Downes said the university had already invested in “some great academic appointments” in the run-up to the submission of its Research Excellence Framework return, which will help to decide how much it receives in publicly funded researchgrants.