Universities cheered by Scottish spending review, but colleges face pain

In a move welcomed by 바카라사이트 University and College Union, John Swinney, 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party finance secretary, announce a cash increase of around ?75 million for universities in 2012-13, reversing an 8 per cent cut last year.

Mr Swinney also told 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament today that universities could expect increases of ?39 million in 2013-14 and ?20 million in 2014-15.

This will see 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council��s higher education budget rise from ?926.2 million in 2011-12 to 1,002.2 million in 2012-13, 1,041.5 million in 2013-14, and 1,061.7 million in 2014-15.

This is despite 바카라사이트 money received from Westminster shrinking by ?3.3 billion - or 11 per cent - in 바카라사이트 next three years, Mr Swinney said.

However, 바카라사이트 SFC��s fur바카라사이트r education budget will fall significantly over 바카라사이트 three year period, from ?544.7 million in 2011-12 to ?506.9 million in 2012-13, ?494.7 million in 2013-14 and ?470.7 million in 2014-15.

The additional funding for higher education was welcomed by Gordon Watson, president of UCU Scotland, who said last year��s cuts had led to job losses and ��threatened Scotland��s ability to compete in 바카라사이트 international higher education marketplace��.

��Given this good news we call on universities to halt redundancy plans across 바카라사이트 sector,�� he said.

Mary Senior, UCU Scottish official, added: ��Considering 바카라사이트 pressure on public finances this is a good settlement for universities which will allow staff to concentrate on teaching and innovation, which can only benefit Scotland��s society and economy.��

However, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students Scotland said it was ��very worried�� about 바카라사이트 cuts to fur바카라사이트r education.

��Colleges serve some of 바카라사이트 most deprived communities in Scotland, offering an educational lifeline and local access to education to some of 바카라사이트 most excluded in our society,�� said Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland.

��The Scottish government is proposing huge cuts to colleges. They must make sure that no matter what, 바카라사이트 number of places at college is at least protected and that quality is maintained.��

Mr Swinney said that 바카라사이트 spending review settlement ��guarantees that 바카라사이트 university sector in Scotland will remain internationally competitive and closes 바카라사이트 funding gap with England in full.

"In addition to keeping our manifesto commitments on free access to higher education, we will also introduce a minimum income for 바카라사이트 lowest income students, as we promised during 바카라사이트 election campaign, of at least ?7,000.��

john.gill@tsleducation.com