“Te reference to what has been undertaken
in Ireland is imaginative. I do wish, however, that in reflecting on both charging higher rates for other UK students and the proposition to charge EU students, we would consider what we are seeking to do. Are we hoping to have a very diverse student population in Scotland? I would like us to be reflecting that mix in our policy,” says Sir Andrew. “I think clearly there is the potential for
other UK and EU students being deterred from coming to study in Scotland.” What’s more, 72 per cent of other UK
students go to five Scottish universities – Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, Aberdeen and Dundee. If significant funding were to be yielded from these students would those institutions – or the students in question – be happy to see that money redistributed across the sector? “Te majority of students from the rest
of the UK are concentrated in a minority of Scottish universities which presents a series of challenges in terms of making this work as a solution for the whole sector,” the Universities Scotland director says. Te Labour Party has yet to spell out the
detail of its proposal, but the pledge has been made. Te party has been accused of a
“I think there is the potential for other UK and EU students being deterred from coming to study in Scotland”
“deathbed conversion” by the First Minister, given its education spokesperson’s previous comment that a graduate contribution was “inevitable”. So how solid is this promise? “We can’t offer a guarantee forever and a
day because nobody can stare that far into the future. But I think as far as this term of the Parliament is concerned, we feel the right thing to do is to make sure that that gap is filled and not to impose fees on students,” says Des McNulty, Labour education spokesperson. Its first move would be to launch a “root and
branch” review of the higher education sector. As part of that, it will explore how transitions from school to college to university can be more efficient. It will also examine plans for business to play a bigger role in funding universities. McNulty explains: “I think that what’s
far better [than a business tax] in terms of the relationship between business and universities is to develop that relationship
Liam Burns
IN BRIEF
Scottish studies subject planned Scottish pupils would study Scottish history, geography and literature and Scots and Gaelic languages under a single banner, if the SNP is returned to government, the Education Secretary has announced. Speaking at the party’s pre-election conference, Michael Russell said: “We will wrap those things up into an offering for schools called Scottish studies and we will link it to all other subjects.”
on a partnership level. We’ve got some very good examples of business working very closely with universities – the pharmaceutical industry through firms like GlaxoSmithKline and Strathclyde University’s pharmaceutical department are good examples of this. “And what I would personally like to see
in some of these areas where business is calling out for graduates in a particular area is business actually having a significant voice in developing the curriculum and perhaps providing sponsorship for students on courses. I think that would be a good way forward.” Burns welcomes Labour’s rejection of fees
and pledge to improve college student support. He fears, however, that that commitment is less than firm, and urges the party to stick to its guns. “[Labour] also have made that commitment
and my worry is that it feels within the party like that’s a lot more uncomfortable for them. Not because there’s any ill intent, they’re just generally worried about ‘Can we deliver on this?’” says the student leader. “So Labour need to break themselves out
of that thinking that this is somehow wasting money. It’s not actually; it’s an investment.” Te NUS has proposed a series of measures
that it believes would provide £118m a year towards filling the gap, including encouraging an extra 5000 fast-track degrees for students who have completed prior study in school or college. And in case any of the parties were thinking
of reneging on their pledges after May, the NUS president makes the position clear. “I just don’t think it’s possible for [parties]
to go back on that, but we’re not naïve. Tat’s why we think that this demonstration is so important because it’s about showing the strength of feeling, that our fight is not before the election, it’s after, and you will not get away with this if you try and U-turn.”
SNP commits to improve school estate The SNP has pledged to halve the number of pupils being taught in crumbling schools in the next parliamentary term if re-elected to government. Education Secretary Michael Russell said the SNP Government had built and refurbished 330 schools over the past four years, halving the number of pupils taught in crumbling school buildings from 250,000. “We are going to do it again. We are going to halve that number in the next four years and we’re going to drive out inadequate buildings in Scottish education – that’s a promise,” he said.
More powers for heads recommended A Scottish Government-commissioned report into devolved school management recommends giving headteachers greater powers over budgets and staff recruitment and development. The report by education expert David Cameron makes a series of proposals to allow clusters of schools – primaries and secondaries that share a catchment area – to manage their budgets together and take advantage of the opportunities offered by Curriculum for Excellence. Cameron also calls for a national formula for the distribution of money to schools.
Russell outlines plan for college reform Education Secretary Michael Russell has launched a four-point plan for reform of the college sector. The plan includes a commitment to no compulsory redundancies for staff, simplification of the funding mechanism, creation of a national map of learning provision and the introduction of collective pay-bargaining arrangements for workers. Scotland’s Colleges’ Principals’ Convention has responded, however, saying that it could not guarantee that there would be no compulsory redundancies in the sector.
Extra support for unemployed A programme of one-to-one support to help vulnerable school leavers find suitable employment, education or training will be introduced, following a successful pilot. Activity Agreements, signed between a young person and an adviser to undertake a programme to prepare them for work or study, will be rolled out across Scotland. The Scottish Government has invested £4m to support the scheme’s implementation.
28 March 2011 Holyrood 35
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