The University of Dundee’s plan to stop offering mathematics degrees has been described as an “act of academic vandalism” that will “damage Scotland’s economic success”.
Dundee announced last week that it is suspending recruitment for its undergraduate maths course as part of its plan to cut 190 jobs, on top of 675 roles that have been lost since August 2024.
The university has stressed that it will continue to offer the subject via other means but the Campaign for Mathematical Sciences urged the institution to think again.
“That is a radical step to take and a deeply misguided one in my opinion. It amounts to little more than academic vandalism,” said the campaign group’s chair, Mark Chaplain, who is the Gregory chair of applied mathematics at the University of St Andrews.
“At a time when the government and the nation need the mathematical sciences to support national security and the development of AI, and underpin vital sectors like healthcare and the gaming industry that have such strong ties to the city of Dundee, it is deeply saddening to see maths provision under such an existential threat.”
