Former Dundee University boss Iain Gillespie could return payoff

Graeme OgstonBBC Scotland NewsProf Iain Gillespie requested whether or not he’s corrupt or incompetentThe former principal of Dundee College has supplied a “heartfelt apology” to its college students and employees, and mentioned he would “mirror” on returning his £150,000 payoff.Prof Iain Gillespie resigned from the college in December, shortly after revealing the establishment’s eight-figure deficit and a warning of a whole bunch of job losses.He advised Holyrood’s training committee he was “not a coward” for strolling away however had failed in his position to “take accountability” as accounting officer and principal.Requested if he was “incompetent or corrupt” Prof Gillespie mentioned: “I am actually not corrupt, so I will have to decide on incompetent.”The tutorial was closely criticised over his position within the college’s monetary disaster in a latest unbiased report led by Prof Pamela Gillies.The college faces a £35m deficit and is anticipated to chop 300 roles by a voluntary redundancy scheme. The Gillies Report mentioned Prof Gillespie had an “overbearing management model” and a dislike of probably awkward questioning and confrontations.The professor mentioned the report had been a “forensic piece of labor” however he “didn’t recognise” the outline of his administration model.The report mentioned the principle causes for the college’s £35m deficit included poor monetary judgement from college administration.Prof Gillespie’s alternative and former deputy Prof Shane O’Neill resigned instantly following the report’s publication final week, together with appearing chair of court docket Tricia Bey.Committee chairman Douglas Ross highlighted the 12 events the Gillies report mentioned Prof Gillespie “ought to have and will have” identified about issues earlier. Ross requested if he cared about this in any respect.Prof Gillespie mentioned he cared “very very deeply”, including: “I admit that is chilly consolation.”That is extraordinarily painful for all of us, it is extraordinarily painful to learn, extraordinarily painful to mirror, extraordinarily painful to study the extent of our failure.”Prof Gillespie advised MSPs he accepted the truth that his view of the college’s funds have been “incorrect” however insisted he didn’t have “the complete image.”Requested by chairman Ross if he was a “coward” for “strolling away into the sundown” after “creating this mess”, Prof Gillespie replied: “That is for different folks to touch upon, I do not assume I am a coward.”He mentioned he resigned as “the buck stops right here” however defended not handing again the six months wage he acquired after leaving in December.Prof Gillespie defined: “That was a contractual obligation from my employer to me. It was not in my thought course of to repay a monetary obligation.”Nonetheless, when pushed on the matter of repaying the cash, Prof Gillespie mentioned he would “mirror” on it together with his household.Talking after the proof session, First Minister John Swinney mentioned that giving the cash again can be “the proper factor to do” given the “awfulness” of the Gillies report and the “catastrophic management failure” on the college.Journeys overseas defendedProf Gillespie defended journeys overseas, saying the college was making an attempt to arrange working agreements in Africa to “develop alternatives” in analysis and “create a welcoming atmosphere” for college kids arriving in Dundee.Labour MSP Michael Marra put it to him that he was a “good time Charlie” who was “fully inactive” when the funds turned and “could not cope with it.”Prof Gillespie that was “completely not the case”.Marra requested if it was proper to say Prof Gillespie “guess the way forward for the entire college and the town” on fast development from worldwide college students.In reply, he mentioned the college anticipated continued development and worldwide scholar recruitment would go up, however visa modifications and different challenges meant that didn’t occur.Prof Gillespie additionally advised MSPs:He accepted the college was sluggish in making redundancies in 2023/24 and “spent more money than we might afford to spend”He had no complaints towards him throughout his time at Dundee UniversityOne member of employees at his former employer, the Pure Atmosphere Analysis Council (Nerc), had made a criticism about his “overbearing behaviour”. Claims by Alexander that she was side-lined have been a “misrepresentation” and that her efficiency “wasn’t what we wanted it to be.”The primary time he was conscious the college had breached its covenant with its financial institution in 2023 was when he learn it within the Gillies Report final week and he acknowledged he had not paid adequate consideration to its covenant commitments.Who else was quizzed by MSPs?Scottish ParliamentOn Wednesday the committee heard proof from three former senior college figures – Dr Jim McGregor, former CEO; Amanda Millar, former chair of the college court docket and Peter Fotheringham, former director of financeOn Wednesday, the committee heard proof from three former members of employees on the college.Dr Jim McGeorge, who resigned as chief working officer final month by “mutual settlement,” denied claims within the Gillies Report that he had “operated in isolation of the details”.Former chair of court docket, Amanda Millar, who resigned in February, mentioned she was “deeply annoyed and saddened” by the “undoubted ache” of scholars and college employees.In the meantime, Peter Fotheringham, who served because the college’s director of finance till final October, mentioned his workforce was “severely under-resourced,” regardless of the report stating he was “conscious partly or completely” of the worsening scenario.In written proof submitted to the committee, the college’s ex-vice principal worldwide, former MSP Wendy Alexander claimed she was requested to go away her submit after asking “tough” questions on its funds.