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Call for wide ranging university review |
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Friday, 16 November 2007 |
Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, has repeated his Party's call for an urgent, independent review into Scotland's universities’ funding following the Scottish budget, which the party says has lead to a growing crisis over the issue.
Fraser said that the SNP's claim that growing the Scottish economy is its top priority lies in tatters. “Even Alex Salmond cannot pretend that the axe his government wielded to our universities this week is compatible with his ‘one central purpose of sustainable economic growth’ as set out in his Economic Strategy published on Monday,” he said. “You do not grow the economy by shrinking the quality and competitiveness of our universities.”
“It is clear that the Cabinet Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, has meekly surrendered in the battle for budget resources. She has achieved the almost unique trick of disappointing everyone, students and academics alike, and has put our internationally renowned institutions in mortal danger. Our brightest talent will be drawn away from Scotland, our research facilities will suffer, and Scotland will be the loser.
He added: “During the elections in May, Scottish Conservatives called for a full and independent review into university and student funding. This week's events have only added urgency to that demand. Ms. Hyslop seems to be offering nothing other than talks with the sector. Scotland doesn't need a talking shop. It needs more than just another conversation. It needs a root and branch independent review.
“We have to be bold enough to set this up now, and allow it to ask some tough questions. How many institutions do we need? What is the right proportion of the population to be attending university? Would it make sense to target the resources to a smaller number of students? What should the duration of courses be? Should students be contributing to the cost of their education? And, of course, there are key questions about the role of further education and the funding of it and its students.”
One person has commented on this article. 1. Call for wide ranging university review
George, Unregistered Not a bad idea to have a review of University funding.
Might throw up some interesting questions about how they spend money and if they are cutting out the fat. After all central and local government are expected to do so with the public money so why not Universities.
In 2005 Trinity College Dublin had a budget of €265.5m and around 15,000 students. Glasgow University with a similar student body and reputation had a budget of £291.5m that year.
Exchange rates would appear to show a significant difference between the two.
However Principals in Scotland are only talking about a comparison with England and not in the wider market place.
So a Review would be a good thing to establish why double the money is being spent for the same outcome. It would be good to get to the bottom of why UK Unis appear to have so much for so little.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 16 November 2007 )
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