DUNDEE University has been accused of “academic and economic vandalism” after it announced that hundreds of people could lose their jobs.

Fears have been raised of the institution collapsing after it revealed a £35 million deficit, triggering plans to cut 632 full-time equivalent jobs.

In a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s education committee on Monday, interim principal Professor Shane O’Neill said the job cuts were likely to affect around 700 people — a fifth of the workforce.