The wider membership of an external Taskforce, set up to advise the University of Dundee on its current finance challenges, has been announced today.

The University of Dundee Strategic Advisory Taskforce to help the university amid its financial deficit of around £30 million includes business and industry organisations, trade unions, enterprise agencies, NHS, and academic representatives.

In addition to Taskforce chair Alan Langlands, University of Dundee, City of Dundee Council, Scottish Funding Council, and the Scottish Government, the Taskforce membership comprises of:

• Universities Scotland
• Abertay University
• University of St Andrews
• Dundee and Angus College
• Tay Cities Regional Economic Partnership/Deal
• Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce
• Scottish Enterprise
• Skills Development Scotland
• NHS Education for Scotland
• Business representation
• Trade Union representation
• Student Union representation
• And Alumni representation.

Today’s announcement of the Taskforce membership came as Scottish education secretary, Jenny Gilruth, met with staff and students at the university’s School of Life Sciences.

The university was ranked top in biological sciences in the most recent Research Excellence Framework, a UK-wide assessment of research quality at higher education institutions.

Visiting the Drug Discovery and Medical Research units at the school, Gilruth heard about how its work has helped contribute to the treatment of conditions like Parkinson’s Disease.

“It was inspiring to hear about the world-leading and life changing work being undertaken at the Life Sciences school here at Dundee. This is vitally important research which underlines the strength of academic excellence and innovation in Scotland,” said Gilruth.

“This work and research also has a major impact on inward investment for the area and the Scottish Government is clear it should be a vital component of our knowledge economy for the coming generations.”

“That’s why this Government has been clear in our determination to ensure that the University of Dundee is fully supported and the wider membership of the taskforce we are setting out today will provide the right mix of knowledge and experience to help advise on the current financial challenges,” Gilruth explained.

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In terms of external financial assistance, the Scottish Government has provided around £22 million to the Scottish Funding Council to support the university.

The funding was made to help the institution address its immediate financial challenges, and stave off the threat of insolvency.

This rescue package was on top of the £1.1 billion of investment already in the budget for university teaching and research.