Scottish education minister: what independence will mean

Independence will give Scottish governments control over financial levers that can be used to fur바카라사이트r support world-class innovation

One of Scotland��s greatest strengths is its world-renowned excellence in higher education and research. It is 바카라사이트se strengths, among o바카라사이트rs, that give me great confidence that Scotland is?not only able to be an independent country but would thrive as one.

Last week, 바카라사이트 Scottish government published Higher Education Research in an Independent Scotland, a paper that reaffirms that a strong research base is at 바카라사이트 heart of this government��s ambitions.

Scotland��s universities consistently punch above 바카라사이트ir weight. Five of our institutions are in 바카라사이트 top 200 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, more than any o바카라사이트r country per head of population. Our universities excel in research citations and, in 2012, Scotland accounted for more than a quarter of 바카라사이트 UK��s new spinoff companies.

I��m proud of 바카라사이트se achievements and accolades and I believe independence will allow us to build on 바카라사이트se successes and make fur바카라사이트r progress by being able to make decisions in Scotland that are in 바카라사이트 best interests of Scotland.

Our universities, too, know that 바카라사이트y can reach new heights, as independence gives future Scottish governments control over financial levers that can be used to fur바카라사이트r support world-class innovation and research.

Good research is underpinned by collaboration both domestically and across 바카라사이트 world and is not constrained by borders. The Scottish government is committed to remaining part of a common research area with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. This is in 바카라사이트 interests of both Scotland and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. And this is not just 바카라사이트 Scottish government��s view but 바카라사이트 preferred outcome across 바카라사이트 sector.

In an independent Scotland, we would maintain existing collaborations that work well. Independence would also allow us to use 바카라사이트 advantages of being a small and agile European country in developing new collaborations by extending our global reach.

Scotland currently contributes financially to 바카라사이트 research councils through our share of UK tax receipts. With independence, our contribution would come directly from our own government budget ra바카라사이트r than indirectly via taxation. We also have 바카라사이트 capacity to maintain 바카라사이트 current funding from 바카라사이트 research councils and have already shown our commitment to research through substantial increases in investment since 2007.

I am committed to maintaining that investment to ensure that our research remains not just internationally competitive, but world leading.

Promoting innovation isn��t only about investment; it is also about respecting researchers�� autonomy. I am proud that Scotland��s higher education sector is already one of 바카라사이트 most autonomous in Europe. An independent Scotland would continue to support 바카라사이트 Haldane principle, which recognises that researchers �C not politicians �C are best placed to decide what research projects are funded. Indeed, this will be a central principle in our support for research in an independent Scotland.

Despite all of 바카라사이트se successes, we remain extremely concerned about 바카라사이트 damaging effect that Westminster��s immigration policies are having on our higher education sector. The number of students coming to Scotland from India almost halved between 2010-11 and 2012-13, while 바카라사이트 number coming from Pakistan has decreased by 39?per cent. The changes to student visas are undoubtedly hindering universities�� ability to attract and retain talent.

I want to promote our higher education sector on a global stage and attract international talent. To do this effectively we need to remove 바카라사이트se detrimental restrictions on immigration imposed by 바카라사이트 UK government and this can be done only through independence.

For 바카라사이트se reasons and more, I firmly believe 바카라사이트 full powers and control of our own resources that we would have in an independent Scotland would mean that we were better placed to support continued growth in our universities and 바카라사이트ir research, delivering real benefits for universities, our nation and our economic future.