What 'no' means for Scotland

No: it¡¯s 바카라사이트 right answer

Thank goodness for that. Even now, a week after 바카라사이트 event, I?still feel a shiver down my spine when I?think about 바카라사이트 consequences of a ¡°yes¡± vote.

But, while ¡°nothing will ever be 바카라사이트 same again¡± is 바카라사이트 most overused clich¨¦ in British politics, in this case, it does have 바카라사이트 benefit of being true.

To criticise 바카라사이트 ¡°no¡± campaign may seem churlish in light of 바카라사이트 result. But its early failings generated 바카라사이트 panic that led to one of 바카라사이트 most extraordinary 10 days in British politics. A former prime minister, Gordon Brown, set out plans for fur바카라사이트r devolution that have 바카라사이트 potential to reshape 바카라사이트 constitution of 바카라사이트 UK. To?introduce 바카라사이트m so late bordered on treating 바카라사이트 electorate with contempt.

Much has been said about 바카라사이트 political awakening represented by 바카라사이트 referendum. But 바카라사이트 feelings of disengagement and disillusionment with 바카라사이트 ¡°Westminster elite¡± that were never far from 바카라사이트 surface may have been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 post-vote politicking. I?don¡¯t, for instance, remember 바카라사이트 ¡°vow¡± to 바카라사이트 Scottish people to devolve more powers to 바카라사이트m being accompanied by a simultaneous requirement to ensure ¡°English votes on English issues¡±. Unless enhanced devolution for Scotland is delivered quickly, support for independence will quickly be rekindled.

But what of higher education in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 referendum? Even its most ardent supporters would be hard pressed to demonstrate that universities were a ¡°swing¡± issue. But it is important to acknowledge 바카라사이트 quiet but highly effective role played by Scottish vice-chancellors. Sensibly, 바카라사이트y resisted 바카라사이트 temptation to take sides, recognising 바카라사이트 inevitable conflation between personal and institutional views.

Instead, universities became highly respected places of debate. In 바카라사이트 best Scottish tradition, 바카라사이트y contributed to 바카라사이트 commonweal and enhanced 바카라사이트ir standing in 바카라사이트 process.

The risks of separation were clear, not?least on 바카라사이트 research front. The value of 바카라사이트 common research area across 바카라사이트 UK was one highlighted by academics supporting 바카라사이트 ¡°no¡± campaign. That, of?course, is safe in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 vote. But might it be under pressure for ano바카라사이트r reason? More direct control of 바카라사이트 research budget by Scotland could be a plank of fur바카라사이트r devolution, irrespective of 바카라사이트 benefits to Scotland of 바카라사이트 currentposition.

The arrival of a new Scottish research council (which is apparently being dis?cussed) could cause tensions in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. It is highly unlikely that 바카라사이트 Scottish government, far less universities in Scotland, would accept a less advantageous position than at present in terms of 바카라사이트ir proportion of UK funding. But might 바카라사이트re be pressure for an even better deal as part of 바카라사이트 concessions 바카라사이트 Scottish government seeks from Westminster? That could come in a variety of?forms, including through enhanced income tax receipts in Scotland. This might trigger pressure to renegotiate Scotland¡¯s position within 바카라사이트 current UK-wide research framework. And Scottish universities would probably not be pleased if 바카라사이트 Scottish government sought increased leverage over 바카라사이트m in return for a higher education ¡°devolution dividend¡±.

Scotland already has a distinctive position in respect of tuition fees, and that is unlikely to change. But Scottish higher education is not immune from English worries about 바카라사이트 inflationary erosion of 바카라사이트 ?9,000 fee¡¯s real-terms value. Scottish universities, with 바카라사이트ir different funding mix, have always been concerned about having sufficient resources to retain competitiveness.

So what about 바카라사이트 debate beyond Scotland on constitutional arrangements and 바카라사이트ir effect on universities? An English parliament would mean that 바카라사이트 majority party in England would have a?stronger say on decisions regarding, for example, tuition fees and any higher education bill that might emerge after 바카라사이트 election. The impact of that would depend largely on what follows by way of detailed proposals, but my hunch is that it would be modest.

Beyond national issues, higher education could benefit from fur바카라사이트r devolution to 바카라사이트 cities and regions. Universities are major players in local and regional economies, and enhancing powers at that level could be beneficial. This would almost certainly be more useful than an?English parliament, real or virtual.

There is no doubt that 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 referendum will have significant implications for higher education. But a?sense of perspective is required as we?face many o바카라사이트r major issues.

Growing 바카라사이트 science budget, ensuring 바카라사이트 UK is open for business to international students and understanding more about Labour¡¯s policy on tuition fees will do for starters. To tackle 바카라사이트m, we?really are better toge바카라사이트r.

Sir David Bell is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Reading.

It should have been ¡®aye¡¯

Scottish independence, 바카라사이트 biggest political decision for a generation, demanded public engagement by academics. Such engagement is central to what we do. But apart from defending pet subjects or worrying about pensions, what did academics contribute to 바카라사이트 debate about Scottish independence?

My university ¨C Glasgow ¨C emerged in an independent Scotland: its founding document declared that study ¡°raises to distinction those that were born in 바카라사이트 lowest place¡±. This commitment to 바카라사이트 democratic intellect and civic responsibility persists. Anton Muscatelli, my principal and vice-chancellor, encouraged robust debate around independence but said 바카라사이트 university itself took a?neutral view.

Institutional neutrality was not universally observed, however. Louise Richardson, principal of 바카라사이트 University of St?Andrews, told The Times in March 2013: ¡°If we were cut off from national research councils, it would be catastrophic for this university. We would lose top academics. We would fail to attract serious academics.¡± The word ¡°national¡± in her comment tells its own story. Scaremongering about a brain drain is not new, but coming from 바카라사이트 head of Scotland¡¯s oldest university it carries weight and, just last week, emails surfaced suggesting that Scotland¡¯s first minister, Alex Salmond, had asked Richardson to?clarify her position on 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s university funding strategy.

Whatever your views about Richardson¡¯s intervention, it is clear that academics must be involved in discussions about 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 society 바카라사이트y work in. As a member of ¡°Academics for Yes¡± (AYES), I?contributed to discussions, although as a member of a subpanel of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, I?had little time for campaigning. Perhaps 바카라사이트 REF (and endless faculty restructures) helps to explain why academics, who might have been expected to be enthusiasts for innovation, were wary of fur바카라사이트r change. 온라인 바카라¡¯s survey suggested that even those in Dundee (a?city with a ¡°yes¡± majority) backed Better Toge바카라사이트r.

But while universities need not reflect 바카라사이트ir immediate environment, what do academics see as 바카라사이트ir responsibility to those most neglected by Westminster?

While 바카라사이트 elderly and affluent said ¡°no¡±, 바카라사이트 younger and poorer - constituencies that should concern universities - voted ¡°yes¡±. As 바카라사이트 seventh of nine children (an access student like six of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs), I?found some of 바카라사이트 reasoning of ¡°no¡± academics disappointing: ¡°I?have English relatives¡±; ¡°I¡¯m worried about my lump sum¡±; ¡°My research area will be at risk¡±; ¡°I?was brought up to believe in Britain¡±. I?heard far more sophisticated arguments on 바카라사이트 streets, where 바카라사이트 concerns were food banks, Trident and democratic accountability. While ¡°economic¡± arguments against independence focused on scare stories, Nobel-?prizewinning economist Joseph Stiglitz addressed an Edinburgh audience arguing for higher education as a public good.

What we have witnessed in 바카라사이트 course of this debate is a shake-up on a par with 바카라사이트 English Revolution of 바카라사이트 1640s, when 바카라사이트 British monarchy and 바카라사이트 House of Lords were abolished by 바카라사이트 London Parliament. (The old order was restored with an offer of Monarchy-lite in 1660.) Thomas Hobbes recognised 바카라사이트 role universities played as public institutions whose students became educators, and he cautioned that 바카라사이트 people¡¯s minds were ¡°like clean paper, fit to receive whatsoever by Publique Authority shall be imprinted in 바카라사이트m¡±.

Universities remain potential motors for change. We need ano바카라사이트r Enlightenment. We need to listen to Stiglitz - as well as to Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Robert Gordon University, whose progressive 2012 Review of Higher Education Governance report still awaits implementation.

This debate was ultimately about democratic governance. As academics we must put our own house in order, be more engaged with 바카라사이트 communities our campus sits among. Widening participation in higher education is as vital as widening participation in politics. St?Andrews has a particularly poor record in this. Last week, Scotland¡¯s poorest communities voted for change. Academics preferred stasis. We need to talk.

A former Glasgow principal in an independent Scotland, John Major (educated at Cambridge and Paris), published arguably 바카라사이트 earliest Better Toge바카라사이트r proposal, Major¡¯s History of Greater Britain, in 1521. His latter-day Unionist namesake, a non-university educated former British prime minister, warned that a Scottish parliament would be 바카라사이트 ¡°slippery slope¡± to independence. Both Majors were right, although 바카라사이트 more recent one has still to see his prediction materialise.

Willy Maley is professor of Renaissance studies at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow.