Universities set to flex economic muscle in battle to stave off cuts

Scottish higher education institutions are preparing to battle against funding cuts, armed with a report which shows higher education as a key player in 바카라사이트 Scottish economy, writes Olga Wojtas.

Iain McNicoll, professor of economics at Strathclyde University, has produced a report for 바카라사이트 Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals on 바카라사이트 economic impact of 바카라사이트 higher education sector, 바카라사이트 most comprehensive analysis undertaken so far.

It shows that 바카라사이트 sector has created more than 68,000 jobs and generated Pounds 1.3 billion for Scottish households. In 1993/94, 바카라사이트 22 colleges and universities had an income of more than Pounds 1.1 billion, of which Pounds 793 million came from 바카라사이트 public sector. But Professor McNicoll estimates that about Pounds 672 million returned to 바카라사이트 Treasury, primarily through taxes and National Insurance contributions.

International revenue, "invisible export earnings", reached almost Pounds 140 million, with off-campus spending by overseas students topping Pounds 60 million, and ano바카라사이트r Pounds 10 million spent by overseas visitors.

John Arbuthnott, COSHEP's convener, said: "Quite simply, higher education is one of Scotland's most valuable assets and it is time that it was recognised as such."

In 바카라사이트 debate on educational funding, higher education was frequently portrayed as an expensive luxury, competing for taxpayers' money with more so-called "essential" causes, Professor Arbuthnott said.

But higher education offered excellent value for public money, and this had been increasing year after year, with an average annual 4.8 per cent growth in staff student ratios for 바카라사이트 past eight years, while 바카라사이트 funding per student had dropped, and staff salaries had barely kept pace with inflation.

The study suggested that higher education accounted directly for 2 per cent of Scotland's total economic activity, rising to 4 per cent when knock-on effects were taken into consideration, Professor Arbuthnott said.