Gettin Rowdy with The Gaudie

Professor Pete Edwards, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at University of Aberdeen, sat down with us for a much-anticipated interview.

We quizzed the Welsh-born computer science researcher on his management decisions since his two-year leadership appointment began in November 2025.

Prof Edwards defended staff cuts affecting up to 111 full-time equivalent jobs and explained controversial restructuring that will see 12 schools fall under four faculties.

He also explained his aim for revenue from transnational campuses in China, Qatar and India to make up for decreasing revenue from international students coming to Scotland.

In the podcast, the senior manager refused to state his salary and denied parallels between current cuts proposals and tragic down-sizing in 1987 shortly before he arrived.

Please be advised that suicide is discussed in this episode. For support, visit ⁠findahelpline.com⁠. University of Aberdeen also offers a ⁠Counselling Service⁠ and a 24/7 ⁠⁠Student Helpline⁠⁠.

For more of the latest visit gaudie.co.uk and follow @thegaudie. Got a story? Want to get involved? Message [email protected].

Interview recorded on 26th June 2026. Produced and presented by Innes Paton & Fred Byrne. Cover photo by Zinat Moslemzadeh. Music: Rock with me by Elephant Green.

And for the final episode of The Road to Holyrood, The Gaudie takes you inside of Grampian regions count, to get live reactions of the results as they happen.

We hear from the elected MSPs right after they find out if they have won their elections...

For more from The Gaudie, find us on www.gaudie.co.uk

This is the big one!

In this episode of the Road to Holyrood, The Gaudie team have been meeting the leaders of the Scottish political parties and asking them the questions that matter most to the University of Aberdeen students.

In this episode we speak to:

John Swinney - SNP - (01:28)

Russel Findlay - Conservatives - (07:15)

Ross Greer - The Scottish Greens - (18:49)

Malcom Offord - Reform UK (30:00)

Alex Cole-Hamilton - Scottish Liberal Democrats - (34:28)

Less than 4 days to go until Scotland will head to the polls.

Have you decided who you are voting for?

The final episode of The Road to Holyrood will be at the count next week, so stay tuned!

For more from the Gaudie: www.thegaudie.co.uk

Produced by: Innes Paton

🌟SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT | EPISODE 2🌟

🎙️ Society Spotlight is the podcast series where we speak to societies making an impact on student life at the University of Aberdeen.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jamie Gellatly, President, and Jadyn Pitt, Fundraising Coordinator, of Just the Tip: Aberdeen University’s HIV Awareness and Fundraising Society.

They look back on their first year, discuss awareness and stigma surrounding HIV, reflect on the challenges they’ve faced, and share their ambitions for the future.

For more from The Gaudie visit www.gaudie.co.uk

🚨EPISODE 10 - THE ROAD TO HOLYROOD

🎤This is the podcast series where we meet the candidates that will represent the students of Aberdeen University for the upcoming Holyrood elections.

Today, we talk to James Wyllie, the Reform UK candidate for Aberdeen Central.

🔊We discuss his journey into politics, goals, priorities, and what he wants to achieve if he is elected into parliament

For more from The Gaudie - www.gaudie.co.uk

In this episode, Arts Editor Ana Kolesnyk speaks to the band 'To Kill a Man', where they discuss the influences for their music, the impact they hope to have, and the importance of student music. Later on, Hannah-Rose Lloyd and Innes Paton speak to Richard Caie, an activist from the Friends of St Fittick's Park. We discuss their ongoing battle to save the last greenspace in Torry.

Produced by: Innes Paton. Music: Rock with me by Elephant Green.

Gary McRae, Interim Senior Governor at University of Aberdeen, talks staff strikes, student experience, and university funding.

As Interim Senior Governor, he chairs University Court sessions deciding the university's future. We questioned the leader on so-called Adapting for Continued Success proposals which staff fear will impact student experience and lead to job losses.

If approved, restructuring would see the replacement of the university’s 12 schools with four faculties and mandated minimum student numbers requiring at least 20 or 25 students per staff member in academic courses (depending on the subject), 10+ students in all degrees, and minimum six students on postgraduate taught programmes.

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🚨EPISODE 9 - THE ROAD TO HOLYROOD

🎤This is the podcast series where we meet the candidates that will represent the students of Aberdeen University for the upcoming Holyrood elections.

Today, we talk to Michael Turvey, the Liberal Democrats candidate for Aberdeen Donside.

🔊We discuss his journey into politics, goals, priorities, and what he wants to achieve if he is elected into parliament

For more from The Gaudie - www.gaudie.co.uk

🌟SOCIETY SPOTLIGHT | EPISODE 1🌟 

🎙️Society Spotlight is the podcast series where we speak to societies making an impact on student life at the University of Aberdeen. 

In this episode, we’re joined by the President, Vice President, and Creative Director of the Aberdeen University Fashion Show, following the 2026 show, Ashes and Echoes. 

We discuss the inspiration behind the theme, the creative process, the debut multicultural walk, and what it takes to bring one of Aberdeen’s biggest student events to life.

For more from The Gaudie visit www.gaudie.co.uk

🚨EPISODE 5 - THE ROAD TO HOLYROOD

🎤This is the podcast series where we meet the candidates that will represent the students of Aberdeen University for the upcoming Holyrood elections.

Today, we talk to Jackie Dunbar, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen Donside.

🔊We discuss her journey into politics, goals, priorities, and what he wants to achieve if she is elected into parliament

Listen to the full episode now on Spotify @ Gettin Rowdy with The Gaudie🚨

EPISODES EVERY FRIDAY🚨

For more from The Gaudie - www.gaudie.co.uk