13 Dec 99

Agreement signals strategic re-alignment for city universities

Dundee's two universities today signed an historic agreement to transfer courses between them as part of a strategic realignment.

Subjects formerly taught in the Management and Consumer Studies Department of the University of Dundee are being transferred to the University of Abertay Dundee.

Abertay will add the subjects to its existing range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business and management, and is planning the development of a new range of related courses. Dundee University meanwhile will use the resources freed by the transfer to develop its existing strengths in areas such as psychology and geography.

The realignment is being supported by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), which has awarded a strategic change grant of £2.1 million to Abertay University to fund the new developments. SHEFC has also agreed that Dundee University can divert funding formerly earmarked for management and consumer studies into other areas of existing strength.

The principals of both universities today signed the formal institutional agreement which paves the way for the realignment to take place over the next four years, and hailed it as a major development for both universities and good news for the long-term future of Dundee as a 'City of Education'. The re-alignment enables each institution to build on its particular strengths and develop higher education within Dundee without wasteful competition.

Professor Bernard King of Abertay said: "An efficient and effective university sector is vital to our nation's long-term future, and this agreement will ensure that both of Dundee's universities can continue to deliver courses which meet the needs of industry and society according to their complementary strengths and missions. The pact we have signed today re-affirms Dundee's status as a truly pioneering City of Higher Education for the new Millennium, and is a fitting testament to the vision and commitment of everyone involved in bringing it to fruition."

Dr Ian Graham-Bryce of Dundee said: "This agreement demonstrates unequivocally that for Dundee's universities collaboration is not just an empty slogan - we can make it work in practice. This innovative development will benefit students, the two universities, and Dundee. Such voluntary realignments to mutual advantage are extremely rare if not unprecedented. Once again Dundee is taking the lead."

Under the agreement signed today, five staff will transfer from Dundee to Abertay next year, but will be 'leased back' to Dundee for the following three years to allow students in management and consumer studies to complete their courses as Dundee graduates.

Abertay meanwhile will create three new lecturers posts and two jobs for support staff to deliver the planned new courses in hospitality management and consumer science within its Dundee Business School and its School of Social & Health Sciences. Recruitment for the new courses will begin next year, and Abertay expects to have up to 200 extra students on the new degrees within five years.

The SHEFC grant of £2.1 million will cover the costs of establishing the new posts, installing new facilities and equipment, and transferring books and other learning materials from Dundee University.

Dundee University will withdraw from teaching the MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree, except for contributing to a specialist MBA in petroleum, energy and mineral law which will be developed between the two universities.
Media enquiries:
Kevin R Coe, Prospect PR Ltd,
University of Abertay Dundee
Tel: 01382 561571
Mobile: 07808 713395
or Carol Pope, Press Officer
University of Dundee
Tel: 01382 344021