A group of experts has been drafted in by the Scottish government to help the University of Dundee recover from its perilous financial situation.

Alan Langlands, a former principal and vice-chancellor of the ailing institution, will chair the ¡°strategic advisory task force¡±, convened after the university announced its planned job cuts may be worse than feared.

Up to 700 academic and professional services roles are set to go as part of efforts to reduce a ?35 million deficit.

Langlands, who was also previously chief executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and vice-chancellor at the University of Leeds, will be joined by representatives from the university, city council, local businesses, trade unions, other education institutions and the Scottish government on the task force, which will meet for the first time this month.

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It will develop ¡°recommendations which will support the future of the university and its role in the wider city region¡±, the Scottish government said.

Part of its remit will be to look at how the university can develop its teaching offer and research strengths in fields such as the life sciences.

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The university has already announced plans to reduce options for its courses in areas such as business and the humanities.

Questions remain over how Dundee found itself in such a difficult financial state and the Scottish Funding Council has launched an investigation.

Up to ?22 million in additional funding has been made available to support the institution with liquidity amid fears it did not have enough money to survive the next few months.

Education secretary Jenny Gilruth said the task force aimed to identify ¡°credible solutions¡± including searching for new sources of funding and support.

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¡°The impact of the university¡¯s teaching and world-leading research is profound, and its success is interwoven with the success of the Dundee city region,¡± she added. ?

¡°Ministers are determined that the institution ¨C with a vibrant community of staff and students at its heart ¨C will thrive long into the future.¡±

Langlands said it was ¡°very challenging times for a great many universities¡± and it was a ¡°privilege¡± to serve on the task force.

¡°At its core Dundee is a great university in a great city, transforming people¡¯s lives and life chances through education, research and innovation, and contributing so much to the economic, social and cultural life of the city and beyond,¡± he added.

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¡°The Scottish government¡¯s commitment to ensuring its long-term future and impact, and protecting the interests of students and staff, provides a strong foundation for the work of the task force.¡±

Current Dundee principal and vice-chancellor Shane O¡¯Neill, who took over on an interim basis after the abrupt departure of former leader Iain Gillespie, welcomed the formation of the task force and said the university was committed to engaging with it fully.

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tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com