Episode 29: From fish research to the dark side, civic harmony and regulatory relief

In Episode 29 of University Registrars Talking About Stuff I chat with Jim McGeorge who is University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Dundee.

We discuss Jim's career which took him from a PhD in Fish parasitology to administrative roles at Abertay, Stirling and Dundee as he moved from academic work to the 'dark side'. He shares how he actually enjoyed the administrative aspects of academia rather than actual research but does feel that he is now in a position where he is not just empathising with the academic mindset but is better placed to support the creation of an environment for academic colleagues to thrive.

Looking at how Dundee is seeing the way forward Jim notes its great strength in life sciences where it has an international reputation and that it is looking at the University's future size and shape. A new Vice-Chancellor started during the pandemic and the entire recruitment and selection was undertaken online with lockdown necessitating a creative induction process.

In terms of the civic agenda Abertay and Dundee are both big employers with lots of students and are therefore real income generators for the city. Jim observes that the relationship with the City Council is really positive and supportive and comments that a big feature of the selling proposition of the City is the university. The opening of the Victoria and Albert museum helped too to put Dundee on the map and it is expected that the proposed Eden project development in city will amplify this too.

Naturally we discuss the impact of Covid and Jim stresses that the on campus experience will remain vital for Dundee. In terms of working arrangements the aim will be to combine the best of what was there before with the best of what has been learned over the past 18 months and ensure flexibility in the response. He also welcomes the recognition of the importance of many parts of professional services which emerged during pandemic and the greater respect for technicians, security, estates staff and many others without whom the university could not operate.

We also explore the legislative divergence between the nations in the UK and the difference in approaches to managing the pandemic in Scotland. Noting that north of the border government ministers are much closer to universities Jim nevertheless feels that the level of regulatory intervention is lower in Scotland than England under the OfS.

There are many more challenges ahead though including in funding and restating the value of universities and the mood in Dundee remains positive - Jim's glass is very much three quarters full.