While Dundee University faces its biggest crisis ever, I’m finding it increasingly difficult as someone closely involved with the university (long-term honorary research staff, and my husband is a long-term salaried employee, for 24 years now) to see how much of the discussion about it in Scottish political spheres and social media has reduced to the level of tribal politics and simplistic blame and finger pointing rather than considering the full and complex picture.

Many ardent nationalists point the blame squarely at the UK government and their immigration policies. Many Scottish unionists blame the SNP policies and Scottish free education. The leader of the Labour party has blamed the SNP government, even though his own senior Labour colleague was one of the key university figures responsible, and left Dundee University just as the crisis was hitting to get a Labour seat in the House of Lords. SNP officials blame the university’s own leaders, who are undoubtedly hugely to blame. But so is long-term underfunding of Scottish students. And also the UK government’s recent immigration crackdowns deterring overseas students.

All of these things are factors. There are others. Some of these factors have caused the problem to come to a peak now. But others have been growing problems for an extended period, though everyday staff were not told about this. It is only by taking in the full picture that there is a reasonable chance of a viable and long-term solution. Emergency funding might help in the short-term, but it won’t address the long-term financial gaps in the university and problems of underfunding of Scottish students in Scotland, which also lead to the universities being increasingly dependent on international students, and now perilously so.

There are understandably huge doubts among Dundee University staff that the current university leadership can steer us out of this situation. It is extremely likely that more intervention at a higher level is needed – and fast! – to save the institution. But such intervention needs to face up to the full and complex picture of the problems. Not deflect the blame to other people, or deny problems of your own party’s making. Only then does the university have a chance.