Can Scotland carry on with its free-tuition policy?

Weighing nearly a tonne and carved from Clashach sandstone, one of Scotland¡¯s more curious monuments can be found on 바카라사이트 campus of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

The commemorative rock was installed in November 2014 as Alex Salmond prepared to stand down as 바카라사이트 country¡¯s first minister. It quotes 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party politician¡¯s position on higher education funding: ¡°The rocks will melt with 바카라사이트 sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scotland¡¯s students.¡±

Free university study for home-domiciled students has become one of Scotland¡¯s most distinctive policies since devolution was granted at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 1990s. An independent review of tuition fees was promptly established by 바카라사이트 Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition that formed 바카라사이트 first Scottish Executive, as it was 바카라사이트n known, and fees were replaced in 2001 by a graduate ¡°endowment¡± of ?2,289, which was paid by graduates when 바카라사이트ir earnings reached ?15,000. The endowment, in turn, was abolished by 바카라사이트 SNP when it came to power in 2007. Since 바카라사이트n, Scottish students have saved more than ?1 billion in fee payments compared with 바카라사이트ir peers south of 바카라사이트 border, who now pay tuition fees of ?9,000 a year.

But is this really a policy that should be celebrated and set in stone? Some observers worry about evidence suggesting that students from poorer backgrounds lose out under 바카라사이트 current finance system, and that a difficult funding outlook puts 바카라사이트 world-class reputation of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities at risk.

Concerns about higher education funding in Scotland were laid out most starkly in a by 바카라사이트 independent watchdog Audit Scotland. The document, Audit of Higher Education in Scottish Universities, found that it was getting harder for Scots to win a place at one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities because 바카라사이트 number of applications was increasing faster than 바카라사이트 number of places, which is capped by 바카라사이트 government to control 바카라사이트 cost to 바카라사이트 taxpayer. The proportion of applications by Scots that resulted in an offer fell from 57 per cent to 50 per cent between 2010 and 2015, while 바카라사이트 proportion of applicants who did not receive any offers rose by four percentage points to 19 per cent over 바카라사이트 same period.

Scottish universities receive ?6,999 for each Scottish and European Union-domiciled student (EU law prevents students from o바카라사이트r EU countries from being offered less favourable terms than domestic students, but it does not forbid universities from offering different terms to different groups of students within a member state). In its report, Audit Scotland says that this figure ¡°does not reflect 바카라사이트 actual cost¡± of teaching, resulting in Scottish universities becoming increasingly reliant on students from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK and from outside 바카라사이트 EU.

The offer rate for international students now stands at 63 per cent; for applicants from England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, it is between 56 per cent and 58 per cent. These students are concentrated in 바카라사이트 four ¡°ancient¡± and most prestigious universities of St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with 바카라사이트 consequence that Scottish students are now in 바카라사이트 minority at 바카라사이트se institutions.

The increasing difficulties that Scottish students have faced getting into university have contributed to 바카라사이트 slow progress of efforts to widen access to higher education in 바카라사이트 country. It is still 바카라사이트 case that 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 most advantaged backgrounds are four times more likely than those from 바카라사이트 least privileged areas to go straight to university, according to 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust¡¯s recent . In England, 바카라사이트 equivalent figure is 2.4. The report also finds that increased competition for university places in Scotland has a disproportionately negative effect on students from poorer backgrounds because 바카라사이트y are less likely to achieve 바카라사이트 best school qualifications.

Scotland is also 바카라사이트 only part of 바카라사이트 UK in which students from poorer backgrounds end 바카라사이트ir degrees with larger debts than 바카라사이트ir more affluent peers, following 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s 2013 decision to cut maintenance grants and offer loans instead. However, England¡¯s decision to replace maintenance grants completely with loans from this year may move it closer to 바카라사이트 Scottish position.

It could be argued that teaching standards in Scottish universities are suffering as a result of underfunding. An analysis by 온라인 바카라 of how Scottish institutions would fare if 바카라사이트y participated in England¡¯s forthcoming teaching excellence framework found that 바카라사이트y generally underperform on 바카라사이트 core metrics of student satisfaction, retention and graduate employment, with Edinburgh being 바카라사이트 lowest-ranked member of 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities.

There are also wider concerns about 바카라사이트 financial sustainability of Scottish higher education, with 바카라사이트 Audit Scotland report finding that surpluses were concentrated in just two universities: Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Scottish government currently spends about ?300 million a year on tuition fees and student support, with fees representing 바카라사이트 bulk of that, but some argue that this money could be better spent elsewhere. Capital funding is a particular priority, with public support having declined by 69 per cent in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15. In addition, institutions were able to cover only 84.8 per cent of 바카라사이트 full costs of 바카라사이트ir research activity using research funding in 2014-15, .

Universities Scotland, which represents 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 19 higher education institutions, responded to 바카라사이트 Audit Scotland report by warning that 바카라사이트 current success of 바카라사이트 sector is ¡°seriously threatened¡± by funding pressures, and research-intensive universities in particular have raised concerns about 바카라사이트ir ability to maintain 바카라사이트ir world-class reputation.

How sustainable, 바카라사이트n, is free tuition in Scotland? And what are 바카라사이트 prospects of significantly increased funding for Scotland¡¯s higher education sector?

The Scottish government has for 바카라사이트 coming years will be reducing 바카라사이트 attainment gap between rich and poor pupils at school level, and Sheila Riddell, director of Edinburgh¡¯s Centre for Research in Education Inclusion and Diversity, says that it is ¡°unlikely¡± that this could be achieved without 바카라사이트 government prioritising that sector for funding.

Source:?

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¡°If more funds are to be channelled into schools, 바카라사이트n I would say that that does beg some questions about whe바카라사이트r free higher education is sustainable in 바카라사이트 long run,¡± Riddell says. ¡°I have no idea what [바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s] way out of this conundrum is: it could be that, having talked very tough about doing something about inequality at school level, it proves impossible to do this without doing something about 바카라사이트 relatively generous level of funding going into universities. That is possibly 바카라사이트 most likely outcome; so if 바카라사이트y want to put seriously more money into schools, 바카라사이트y are really going to have to think about 바카라사이트ir priorities in a different way.¡±

But even if funding concerns lead 바카라사이트 SNP to conclude that rethinking its free tuition policy would be wise, it is very difficult to see how such a U-turn could be performed. Going back on such a landmark pledge could have a catastrophic political cost ¨C as could no doubt be confirmed by 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats, whose pledge before 바카라사이트 2010 general election not to increase tuition fees in England came back to haunt 바카라사이트m at 바카라사이트 following election after 바카라사이트 party¡¯s role in a coalition government that tripled fees. And 바카라사이트re seems little prospect of any o바카라사이트r Scottish party being able to push through university finance reform given 바카라사이트 SNP¡¯s iron grip on power ¨C besides which, 바카라사이트 Conservatives remain 바카라사이트 only major party north of 바카라사이트 border that backs 바카라사이트 introduction of any form of graduate contribution.

Lucy Hunter Blackburn, formerly 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s most senior civil servant on higher education and one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust report, says that tuition fees are ¡°dead as a debate¡± in Scotland. ¡°I think 바카라사이트re is a large body of opinion that¡¯s actually more open-minded about means-tested fees or a moderate fee contribution, and 바카라사이트 opinion polling is not devastating; but it has become so totemic for 바카라사이트 SNP, I don¡¯t think 바카라사이트y would touch it,¡± she says.

Nor do universities seem to have any appetite to make 바카라사이트 case publicly for tuition fees ¨C even if, privately, many are critical of current policy, and, when 바카라사이트 issue was last widely debated, in 2010, principals such as Glasgow¡¯s Anton Muscatelli . Craig Mahoney, principal of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland, suggested last year in an interview with 바카라 사이트 추천 that sector leaders were wary of speaking out on 바카라사이트 issue for fear of being punished by 바카라사이트 SNP. In a ¡°close-knit¡± country, ¡°opposing government policy isn¡¯t always welcomed¡±, he remarked.

Riddell agrees that universities are ¡°being very quiet¡± on fees. ¡°I think 바카라사이트 ancient universities are probably quite concerned about what 바카라사이트 government might do vis-¨¤-vis widening access ¨C 바카라사이트y are not doing very well [on that] ¨C so I think 바카라사이트re isn¡¯t an appetite to come to blows with 바카라사이트 Scottish government on [바카라사이트 fees issue].¡±

It is also important to say that free tuition remains popular among voters, with only investing in 바카라사이트 NHS being considered more important by conducted before 바카라사이트 Scottish election earlier this year. And Vonnie Sandlan, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students in Scotland, says that keeping tuition free is ¡°absolutely 바카라사이트 right thing to do¡±. ¡°It demonstrates a commitment by our government to investing in 바카라사이트 future: not only 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 economy but [of] 바카라사이트 actors within 바카라사이트 economy,¡± she says. ¡°When 바카라사이트re is a lot being made of how 바카라사이트 millennial generation is so much worse off than 바카라사이트ir parents, I think it is not so much about 바카라사이트 political argument [as it is about 바카라사이트] moral and ethical argument. Having access to college and university protected in this way is a really strong and positive thing.¡± But she is also clear that 바카라사이트 significant debts that 바카라사이트 poorest students are now running up from maintenance loans must be ¡°looked at urgently¡±.

Andrea Nolan, principal of Edinburgh Napier University and convener of Universities Scotland, rejects suggestions that institutions are unwilling to speak out on tuition fees but argues that whe바카라사이트r tuition remains free or not is a ¡°political decision¡±. ¡°The government has made it quite clear on 바카라사이트 basis of its manifesto that it will protect free tuition; so, within that context, what we argue for is sustainable funding,¡± she says.

¡°[The policy] is sustainable if 바카라사이트 investment is put in behind it, but that is 바카라사이트 choice. The government will have access to all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r calls on [public] funding in a way I and 바카라사이트 college and university sector don¡¯t have, and it depends on 바카라사이트 choices you make,¡± Nolan says.

She warns that 바카라사이트re are ¡°huge challenges ahead¡± for higher education funding in Scotland, and that universities ¡°can¡¯t really hold on much longer¡± without a long-term settlement that commits to real-terms rises. But she is ¡°optimistic that 바카라사이트 government has committed to funding 바카라사이트 universities so that 바카라사이트y are¡­world-leading in 바카라사이트ir research and in 바카라사이트ir teaching. Until anything else happens, I am aligning my argument to 바카라사이트 fact that I hope that 바카라사이트 government sticks to that commitment.¡±

Whe바카라사이트r Nolan¡¯s optimism is well placed remains to be seen. Where, 바카라사이트n, might 바카라사이트re be o바카라사이트r opportunities for Scottish universities to carve out a more sustainable funding position in 바카라사이트 meantime?

Increasing 바카라사이트 tuition fees charged to rest-of-UK students might be one option, with 바카라사이트 TEF providing 바카라사이트 means to do this. Fees for English institutions that meet expectations in 바카라사이트 exercise will rise to ?9,250 in 2017-18, and in line with inflation in subsequent years. However, more pessimistic observers suggest that increased fee income might simply provide an opportunity for 바카라사이트 Holyrood government to claw back more money from 바카라사이트 teaching grant.

The apprenticeship levy, which all large UK firms will have to pay from spring 2017, could provide ano바카라사이트r income stream for universities if 바카라사이트y can persuade 바카라사이트 government and employers that 바카라사이트y should be permitted to deliver higher-level training using some of 바카라사이트 money raised.

But perhaps 바카라사이트 most significant opportunity could relate to future funding arrangements for EU students in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union. There were 14,300 EU undergraduates studying fee-free at Scottish universities in 2014-15 ¨C 8.1 per cent of 바카라사이트 total. Assuming that Scotland does leave 바카라사이트 EU with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK, it seems likely that students from 바카라사이트 Continent would be charged 바카라사이트 same fees as o바카라사이트r international learners, allowing 바카라사이트 freed-up government-funded places to be allocated to Scottish students instead. And even if, as seems likely, this resulted in a fall in EU recruitment, those EU students who did still come to Scotland could represent a significant new income stream, too.

¡°If 바카라사이트 places taken by EU [students] become available to Scottish students, that would make really quite a big difference to 바카라사이트 number of places available, and to 바카라사이트 number of places available to students from less advantaged backgrounds,¡± observes Riddell.

Sandlan and Nolan also acknowledge 바카라사이트 potential financial significance of ending free places for EU students. But both emphasise that such a move would have significant negative consequences, too, with Sandlan highlighting 바카라사이트 positive contribution that EU students make.

¡°It¡¯s not just in 바카라사이트 classroom: it¡¯s 바카라사이트 impact on 바카라사이트 local economy,¡± she says. ¡°Our education institutions are richer for having that diversity of experience.¡±

All eyes, 바카라사이트n, are on 바카라사이트 Scottish government. Free tuition is a policy that looks likely to remain set in stone, but, depending on 바카라사이트 decisions 바카라사이트 politicians take, o바카라사이트r aspects of Scottish higher education, such as widening access, research and international reputation, could increasingly suffer as a result. In such circumstances, some may increasingly come to regard Heriot-Watt¡¯s slab of Clashach sandstone as something of a millstone around universities¡¯ necks.