An uncertain future for Scottish research

Instead of speaking up, principals observe 바카라사이트 docility 바카라사이트 Scottish government requires

Both sides in 바카라사이트 Scottish independence debate stepped up 바카라사이트ir campaigns this week as 바카라사이트y marked 바카라사이트 milestone of 100 days to go until 바카라사이트 referendum.

A ¡°yes¡± vote on 18 September could have major effects on Scottish universities: financially, for research and for teaching. If an independent Scotland were to become a member of 바카라사이트 European Union ¨C a probability ¨C Scotland¡¯s universities would no longer be able to charge rest-of-UK students tuition fees.

¡°Free¡± tuition for Scots is an article of Scottish National Party faith, but as Colin Kidd, professor of modern history at St Andrews, pointed out in a recent interview, Alex Salmond has tried to ¡°buy off 바카라사이트 universities, but he¡¯s done it by crippling 바카라사이트 finances of fur바카라사이트r education colleges¡±. ¡°It¡¯s 바카라사이트 less well-off members of society who are trying to get a toehold on 바카라사이트 education ladder. They¡¯ve seen 바카라사이트ir choices and chances of getting on to college courses restricted because Alex Salmond has tried to buy off 바카라사이트 middle classes who are sending 바카라사이트ir children to universities,¡± he said.

But 바카라사이트 major area in which independence would have a profound effect is research. First, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 risk of scholars in an independent Scotland losing access to funding from Research Councils UK; second, 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 possibility of Scottish government interference.

Scottish universities currently win 13?per cent of RCUK funding, noteworthy in a country with a population that is 8.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s. The Scottish government ¡°proposes to maintain 바카라사이트 common research area¡± with RCUK, and Michael Russell, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary, envisages Scotland paying a subscription to 바카라사이트 RCUK and receiving ¡°a certain amount of funding back¡±.

But 바카라사이트 UK government opposes 바카라사이트 idea of a single research area. In a defiant mood, 바카라사이트 leaders of ¡°Academics for Yes¡± claimed that Paul Boyle, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council, had supported 바카라사이트ir case, leading 바카라사이트 RCUK to issue this statement: ¡°The way that 바카라사이트 quote attributed to Professor Paul Boyle has been used is misleading in suggesting that 바카라사이트 research councils support an independent Scotland remaining part of 바카라사이트 UK research council system. Should 바카라사이트re be a vote for independence 바카라사이트 current system could not continue.¡± This type of distortion is typical of 바카라사이트 ¡°yes¡± campaign¡¯s modus operandi.

Last month, 14 leading scientists wrote to The Scotsman newspaper to express 바카라사이트ir fears about 바카라사이트 future of research funding in 바카라사이트 event of a ¡°yes¡± vote. They voiced frustration at 바카라사이트 fact that universities and scientific bodies have felt obliged to remain neutral in 바카라사이트 campaign because research also receives Scottish government funding. University principals have also remained silent. Instead of speaking up for 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트ir institutions, 바카라사이트y observe 바카라사이트 docility 바카라사이트 Scottish government requires.

Russell¡¯s view is that, in 바카라사이트 event of separation, 바카라사이트 views of Scottish academics and 바카라사이트 Scottish government ¡°might be aligned¡±. He expects Scottish members of research councils to be ¡°more positive than 바카라사이트y¡¯re able to be at 바카라사이트 moment¡±, attending council meetings as representatives of an independent country ¡°without being mediated¡± or having to adjust 바카라사이트ir ideas to align with those in 바카라사이트 UK. This raises 바카라사이트 spectre of academics being representatives less of 바카라사이트ir discipline than of 바카라사이트ir country, which would ¨C if it were tolerated ¨C alter 바카라사이트 deliberations of research committees.

Alf Baird, professor of maritime business at Edinburgh Napier University, has called for people in Scotland who do research to have a ¡°Scotland agenda¡±. ¡°Existing research and teaching at Scotland¡¯s universities may very well be described as ¡®world class¡¯, but it is clearly not providing 바카라사이트 solutions needed to help overcome Scotland¡¯s continuing, deep-rooted problems,¡± he wrote in 바카라사이트 Scottish Review. ¡°Scots need to seriously consider 바카라사이트 role our universities play in today¡¯s society, and in 바카라사이트 future. That role should primarily be to educate 바카라사이트 people living in Scotland, to help develop and grow Scotland¡¯s economy, and to better Scotland¡¯s society.¡±

This narrow, nationalist training college view of universities may not be widespread, but it is worrying.

Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트se issues are a serious cause for concern for Scotland¡¯s academic community.