Aberdeen University strike dates announced in row over cuts

Four strike dates at the University of Aberdeen have been announced for next month.

University and College Union (UCU) members previously voted to back industrial action in a dispute over cuts.

Notice of the plans have now been submitted to the institution for March.

The university described the move as "disappointing".

The dates are 12 and 13 March and 17 and 18 March.

UCU has been urging university management to continue negotiations.

The university said every effort would be made to minimise the impact of any action.

"It's disappointing industrial action has been announced while we look at ways of tackling the challenges facing the university and UK higher education sector," a statement said.

In December, the university's new principal said managing to achieve a break-even financial position by 2028 would be a "real challenge".

Prof Peter Edwards said that while progress had been made in finding more than £5m of savings, there was still a "lot of work to do".

He told BBC Scotland News he hoped redundancies could be avoided, but said there needed to be a "fundamental look" at the current funding model for universities.

The university reopened a voluntary severance and early retirement scheme last year to help find £5.5m in savings.

It also froze recruitment and asked departments to identify further measures to save money.

The university recently confirmed that 41 people took up the offer of a severance package or early retirement.

The institution said that "wide-ranging measures" had allowed it to reduce its deficit for 2024/25 to £4.3m.

And it confirmed it was on track to achieve the budget approved by its governing body for this year, with work continuing to return to a break-even position by 2028.

Elsewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh University announced £140m of cuts to tackle financial difficulties, while the Scottish government bailed out Dundee University with £40m of emergency funding.

The Scottish government has said it wants a "successful and sustainable future" for higher education.