“Selling off” Abertay University’s share of the flagship SIMBIOS centre to Dundee University is among moves being discussed at “secret meetings” of Abertay University Court members, it has been claimed.
The Bernard King Support Group, set up after the former Abertay principal’s suspension in March, allege a number of moves including switching computing courses to Dundee University or Dundee College have been debated “behind closed doors”. They believe this could lead to the “collapse” of Abertay as a university in its own right.
The Scottish Informatics, Mathematics, Biology and Statistics Centre (SIMBIOS) is a joint venture by the two universities, covering a broad range of research. The campaigners said talks have already taken place which could lead to redundancies, Abertay “collapsing” and staff leaving for other institutions, which the campaigners added may have been instrumental in leading to this week’s resignations of three court members, including Chief Constable Justine Curran.
Abertay dismissed the claims, saying “informal discussions” are about “collaborations” with Dundee University and Dundee College, encouraged by the Scottish Funding Council.
Bernard King Support Group member Susanta Sarkar, formerly a member of the Abertay Court and ex-engineering faculty dean, told The Courier he believed it was “the operation of the court, the way they do business at the moment which, to put it bluntly, is disgusting, that led to these people resigning.
“They are all respectable people and out of respect they didn’t say much about it, but I think they found it necessary not to be part of the way things are happening.”
Another member of the group said, “The university can’t comment on why the court members left, but they are telling people on the quiet that it’s Professor King’s fault. Those who have left have felt very vulnerable themselves all women of course.
“What is left in general is a bunch of old retired males, out of touch with business and reality of university life.
“One resigning member of court stated she was leaving due to poor practices by court and bad management of the situation.’Collaborations'”The secret discussions about selling off parts of Abertay include SIMBIOS being given to Dundee University. The chair of court keeps stating that there is no truth to the claim, but talks have taken place already…
“It is expected that Abertay will eventually be called Abertay Campus, and part of something else, not a university in its own right.”
An Abertay spokesman said, “There are absolutely no plans to sell off any parts of Abertay University. The informal discussions that have taken place with Dundee University and Dundee College are about possible collaborations that could be of mutual benefit.
“In the current climate of reduced public expenditure, it makes good sense for institutions to explore the potential efficiencies that collaboration could offer, and in fact the Scottish Funding Council is encouraging colleges and universities throughout the country to do just that.
“They have established a new ‘Invest to Save’ fund designed to support this, and it is possible that we and our partners in Dundee might consider a joint bid to the fund, should a mutually acceptable proposal emerge.
“Meanwhile, we have almost finalised our new strategic plan for 2011-2015, which contains a specific commitment to Abertay ‘continuing as a vibrant and independent university.’
“The plan also contains proposals for several strategic investments worth more than £4 million over the next few years aimed at expanding the academic capability of the institution.
“The acting principal is planning to tour the university’s academic departments and support services over the next two weeks to talk about these exciting new opportunities in more detail.”
The spokesman added, “It’s a great shame that someone should, for their own ends, distort the facts so much and risk unnecessarily worrying our hard-working and committed staff and students.”