Dundee University is defending its principal’s £7,000 trip to Hong Kong

The newspaper reported that Prof Gillespie traveled business class from Edinburgh to Hong Kong at a cost of £4,723, while his colleague flew at a cheaper fare of £1,067.

Accommodation for the two-night stay costs £682 each.

It was also reported that business class flights for an upcoming trip to China and Dubai were booked at a cost of more than £8,300 before being canceled and rebooked on cheaper premium economy flights.

It is understood that last year’s trip to Hong Kong raised more than £75,000 in income and donations to the university.

But a university employee told BBC Scotland News that they felt the use of business class flights was “irresponsible”.

They said: “As we are asked to work with cuts after cuts, with multiple jobs having to be covered due to the recruitment freeze, it is frightening to see the director making it on business class flights on his £300,000 salary .”

The university said its activities in China were “an important part” of its global strategy, which it said generated millions of pounds a year through “student recruitment and education and collaboration in the country”.

A spokesperson said: “The principal is travel to and from China in premium economy, at a significantly lower cost than what was quoted, and this must be weighed against the value of our global partnerships and all they bring to Dundee.”

He added that it was “not unusual for plans and commitments to change” when planning international travel.

The spokesperson said: “This sometimes incurs relatively small costs as flights and accommodation need to be re-arranged, but again this must be weighed against the value of the activity and the significant income it brings to the university.”