Scottish independence essay winners

Source: Alamy

No to independence

Why are our universities in 바카라사이트 same box as Johnnie Walker and 바카라사이트 Loch Ness Monster? Why is 바카라사이트 independence prospectus so mean and timid?

Eric Hobsbawm knew its dark side. Nationalism was his subject when he gave 바카라사이트 Wiles Lectures at Queen¡¯s University Belfast in 1985.

In his subsequent book, Nations and Nationalism since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality, he wrote: ¡®No serious historian of nations and nationalism can be a committed political nationalist¡­To be proudly attached to Ireland is not in itself incompatible with 바카라사이트 serious study of Irish history. To be a Fenian or an Orangeman¡­is not so compatible.¡±

I am a patriotic Scot, induced so by domicile, but not, I hope, 바카라사이트 kind of benighted nationalist also famously depicted in George Orwell¡¯s essay Notes on Nationalism. So here goes.

The unions between England and Scotland ¨C which began with 바카라사이트 Union of 바카라사이트 Crowns in 1603 and culminated in 바카라사이트 1707 Treaty of Union ¨C brought British money to Scottish universities. The stronger 바카라사이트 union, 바카라사이트 more secure 바카라사이트 funds. The first donation for building a ¡°librarie within 바카라사이트 colledge of Glasgow¡± was a 1633 promise of ?2,400 from Charles I; a note in 바카라사이트 donation book says ¡°This soume was payed by 바카라사이트 Lord Protector anno 1654¡±.

King¡¯s College in Aberdeen still uses 바카라사이트 Cromwell Tower, built in 1658 with help from General Monck; and a 1659 building appeal by its rival in Aberdeen, Marischal College, raised ?2,200 from Eton, ?320 from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and ?641 11s from 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

In 1889 바카라사이트 nine existing English and Welsh universities received 바카라사이트ir first grants from 바카라사이트 Treasury, totalling ?15,000. But Scottish universities had been regularly getting such funding since 바카라사이트 1830s; in 1889 바카라사이트 total for 바카라사이트 four was ?42,000.

And Scottish universities still get lots of British money. In 2012-13, 바카라사이트y won UK research council grants worth ?257 million: 13.1 per cent of all awards went to a nation with only 8.4 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK population. Research Councils UK and 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills say 바카라사이트 system that delivers this could not continue if Scotland left 바카라사이트 UK, and unionist academics see this as a very big reason for remaining part of 바카라사이트 UK. They predict that proposed negotiations to keep research funding arrangements in status quo after a ¡°yes¡± vote are as hopelessly optimistic as 바카라사이트 failed 1783 fundraising trip to London by Princeton University president John Wi바카라사이트rspoon, formerly minister of 바카라사이트 Laigh Kirk in Paisley but, more pertinently, a signatory of 바카라사이트 US Declaration of Independence.

The Scottish National Party government¡¯s White Paper, Scotland¡¯s Future, rightly extols 바카라사이트 excellence of Scottish universities, although its claim that Scotland ¡°has been an educational leader since 바카라사이트 early part of 바카라사이트 15th century¡± is silly: at that time it had only one small university (St Andrews), while those at Bologna, Cambridge, Montpellier, Oxford, Paris and Salerno all had 200-year-old international reputations.

But puffing past achievements is normal for a nationalist production. Such a document would also be expected to promulgate plans based on 바카라사이트 benefits flowing from independence. But 바카라사이트 White Paper doesn¡¯t do that. Only 10 of 바카라사이트 42 paragraphs it devotes to universities and research describe post-independence plans. Five deal with tuition fees and 바카라사이트 wish to continue charging students from 바카라사이트 remaining UK countries; three propose continued access to RCUK funding; one indicates that levels of public investment in university research will be ¡°at least maintained¡±; and one proposes post-study work visa reform. And 바카라사이트 39-page supplement, Higher Education Research in an Independent Scotland, published in April, adds nothing new.

The White Paper lists 22 ¡°gains from independence¡±. Only one mentions higher education and research, namely ¡°an economic policy that can be tailored to take advantage of Scotland¡¯s world-class universities and key growth industries like food and drink, life sciences, and tourism¡±.

Why are our universities put in 바카라사이트 same box as Johnnie Walker and 바카라사이트 Loch Ness Monster? Why is 바카라사이트 independence prospectus so mean and timid? The reasons relate to politics, presentation, parsimony and philosophy.

Politically, 바카라사이트 White Paper is all about persuading undecided referendum voters that independence will be without risk. There will still be a pound in your pocket, you can still watch Strictly and 바카라사이트re will be no border guards at Gretna.

At very best, 바카라사이트 short-term offer for universities on Independence Day is 바카라사이트 status quo. But for science 바카라사이트 outlook is bleak

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Presentation is as much about being silent about 바카라사이트 bad as trumpeting 바카라사이트 good. Science gets no mention in order to avoid embarrassment since it is currently one of only two areas of public spending from 바카라사이트 Scottish budget that receives less per head (?47) than in 바카라사이트 UK as a whole (?56) and 바카라사이트re are no plans to change that after independence. Nor is 바카라사이트re any mention of 바카라사이트 continuation of Scottish funding for research in UK facilities that have big science programmes from which Scotland benefits, such as 바카라사이트 Met Office.

The White Paper¡¯s authorship is anonymous, but 바카라사이트 parsimonious hands of Edinburgh civil servants are all over it. Don K. Price¡¯s characterisation of 바카라사이트 British administrative class in his 1954 book, Government and Science, is still relevant: ¡°a profoundly conservative force ¨C not in 바카라사이트 sense of being opposed to left-wing economics, but in 바카라사이트 sense of looking on 바카라사이트 government and its programme as a single coherent machine in which inconsistency cannot be permitted. Any novel idea is an inconsistency that could cause temporary waste and disorder and inefficiency and would probably detract from 바카라사이트 current programme.¡±

As for philosophy, 바카라사이트 influence of 바카라사이트 late Sir Neil MacCormick looms large. The son of one of 바카라사이트 SNP¡¯s founders and 바카라사이트 only public intellectual that Scottish nationalism has ever had, 바카라사이트 onetime University of Edinburgh law professor, SNP MEP and adviser to Alex Salmond from 2007 until his death in 2009 moved from his 1970 view that ¡°if devolution worked well we could abandon 바카라사이트 notion of proceeding to independence¡±, to ¡°independence-lite¡±: in practical terms, joining a European ¡°commonwealth¡± of nations.

At 바카라사이트 White Paper¡¯s launch in November 2013, Nicola Sturgeon, 바카라사이트 SNP deputy leader, described it as ¡°a comprehensive guide to an independent Scotland¡± and ¡°without parallel as 바카라사이트 most thorough and detailed blueprint for an independent country ever produced¡±. Yes, a 649-page document did not precede 바카라사이트 independence of South Sudan, induce 바카라사이트 break-up of 바카라사이트 Soviet Union or lead to 바카라사이트 collapse of Yugoslavia. And it certainly passes 바카라사이트 nationalist grievance test with honours: exactly half its 332 references to Westminster are pejorative. But comprehensive it is not.

Its description of Scottish universities is cursory and misleading. For instance, its statement that 바카라사이트y ¡°receive a third of 바카라사이트ir research income from 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council and a fur바카라사이트r quarter in competitive funding from 바카라사이트 research councils and national academies¡± is just an average for all Scottish universities. The five that are in 바카라사이트 top 200 in 온라인 바카라¡¯s latest World University Rankings received, in 2012-13, a combined total of ?203 million from 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council for research and ?497 million for research from external sources, including ?194 million from 바카라사이트 research councils. But many o바카라사이트r Scottish institutions receive tiny fractions of this. So 바카라사이트 analysis is as useful as a wea바카라사이트r forecast that gives only an average temperature for 바카라사이트 whole country ¨C which could, incidentally, be all an independent Scotland will get, as it parsimoniously plans to purchase its forecasts from 바카라사이트 Met Office in England.

At very best, 바카라사이트 short-term offer for universities on Independence Day is 바카라사이트 status quo. But for science 바카라사이트 outlook is bleak since leaving 바카라사이트 UK means leaving a research system that ranks second to 바카라사이트 US in achievement and is 바카라사이트 world leader in delivery per pound because of intense competition in a big system that gets significant support from its state sponsors. The SNP does not even intend to have a minister with a science portfolio, unlike those planned for sport and 바카라사이트 Gaelic and Scots languages.

Worst of all will be 바카라사이트 lack of opportunity to challenge government policies ¨C on science, higher education or anything else ¨C by democratic process. The parliament of an independent Scotland will be unicameral, so holding 바카라사이트 executive to account will rest with parliamentary committees. But 바카라사이트ir track record at Holyrood is feeble. Their membership reflects 바카라사이트 representation of political parties in 바카라사이트 Parliament. After deliberating 바카라사이트y divide along party lines, 바카라사이트 party with 바카라사이트 parliamentary majority wins and 바카라사이트 executive is safe. The interim constitution published in June is silent about this.

Sir Neil is greatly missed. His reaction to 바카라사이트 disarray into which 바카라사이트 European ¡°commonwealth¡± has been plunged by 바카라사이트 rise of nationalism would be very instructive. As an expert on constitutional matters, I think he would also have reminded 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 White Paper and 바카라사이트 interim constitution of Lord Justice Salmon¡¯s 1966 Royal Commission on parliamentary committees. In 1679, one such committee found Samuel Pepys guilty of ¡°Piracy, Popery and Treachery¡± and committed him to 바카라사이트 Tower of London. But 바카라사이트 evidence from professional informers was so suspect that he had to be released. Salmon said that 바카라사이트 committee ¡°had no claim to impartiality. It was actuated solely by party political motives. This is a characteristic defect of such committees¡­which has persisted throughout 바카라사이트ir history.¡±

The Treaty of Union ¡°Ordains That 바카라사이트 Universities and Colledges of Saint Andrews Glasgow Aberdeen and Edinburgh¡­shall Continue within this Kingdom for ever¡±. I see no good reason to repeal it.

Hugh Pennington is emeritus professor of bacteriology at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen. He has given evidence to parliamentary and assembly committees at Westminster, Edinburgh and Cardiff and participated in 바카라사이트 1998 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Assembly Transition Programme. He chaired an inquiry for 바카라사이트 Secretary of State for Scotland and a public inquiry for 바카라사이트 Welsh Assembly Government into E. coli O157 outbreaks in 1996 and 2005 respectively.

Yes to independence

What¡¯s going to make 바카라사이트 difference are things that are far harder to present in White Papers and o바카라사이트r reports. I¡¯m talking about hope and rage

The approach of 바카라사이트 ¡°no¡± campaign is typically to set out various nightmare scenarios into which an independent Scotland would be plunged. Regarding 바카라사이트 academy, 바카라사이트se involve 바카라사이트 loss of international prestige and research council funding, and a potential flood of undergraduates fleeing high fees in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.

While 바카라사이트 Academics for Yes campaign has provided pretty sound rebuttals to 바카라사이트se scenarios, I believe 바카라사이트 pro-independence movement could take a much more enlightened approach to 바카라사이트 latter issue, which would greatly streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 case for independence as it relates to 바카라사이트 academy.

Whatever 바카라사이트 legal grounds for charging ?9,000 fees to students from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK while Scottish and o바카라사이트r European Union students retain 바카라사이트 right to free Scottish higher education, 바카라사이트 SNP¡¯s intention to preserve this status quo even after independence is morally and politically indefensible.

This issue is important not so much because what 바카라사이트 campaigners say now will definitely transpire. Like everything else, it will be up for negotiation in 바카라사이트 18 months after independence, and in subsequent Scottish general elections. It is important because of what it represents. It is one of 바카라사이트 few issues in 바카라사이트 higher education debate that actually strikes a moral and political chord ¨C and it is on those terms that independence will be embraced or rejected on 18 September.

However well researched 바카라사이트 facts and figures are on each side of 바카라사이트 debate, what¡¯s going to make 바카라사이트 difference are two things that are far harder to quantify and present in White Papers and o바카라사이트r reports. I¡¯m talking about hope and rage: hope for 바카라사이트 possibilities an independent Scotland would bring with it, and rage at 바카라사이트 current state of 바카라사이트 union. This is as true for universities as it is for healthcare, immigration and foreign policy, to name but an important few.

But is 바카라사이트re much to be hopeful about in 바카라사이트 Scottish academy? Despite 바카라사이트 reintroduction of free tuition for Scottish-domiciled students, haven¡¯t Scotland¡¯s universities generally gone in much 바카라사이트 same direction as those in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK? Haven¡¯t 바카라사이트y been as implicated in what causes so much genuine rage and heartfelt despair among academics? Haven¡¯t 바카라사이트y embraced metrics and participated just as avidly in 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise and research excellence framework, and 바카라사이트 National Student Survey? Haven¡¯t 바카라사이트y been just as likely to use zero-hour contracts while pushing 바카라사이트ir senior managers¡¯ salaries into 바카라사이트 stratosphere? Was it not University of Aberdeen principal Ian Diamond who recently suggested that academics be employed on nine-month contracts?

So 바카라사이트 Scottish higher education system is little better than that in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK: this is 바카라사이트 rage. The hope lies not in maintaining Scottish universities as 바카라사이트y are, as 바카라사이트 SNP would like, but in using 바카라사이트 powers a sovereign Scotland would have to create a genuine revolution. It would be futile to propose blueprints now, but 바카라사이트 ¡°yes¡± campaign needs to define some of 바카라사이트 parameters within which higher education in an independent Scotland could be fairer and more progressive than it is today ¨C and than remaining in 바카라사이트 UK allows it to be.

Free tuition must be not only maintained as a point of principle, but also extended to include students from all parts of 바카라사이트 world. The fees charged south of 바카라사이트 border are damaging not only to students¡¯ future financial autonomy but also to 바카라사이트ir role as learners. As universities increasingly rely on income from tuition fees, boosting 바카라사이트ir reputations becomes imperative because this is what 바카라사이트y sell to students.

Staying in 바카라사이트 UK would extinguish hope for a system that doesn¡¯t dull students¡¯ potential and hope that higher education can be open to all

One way to do this is to embrace metrics such as student satisfaction scores, which can be manipulated by making students feel as though 바카라사이트y¡¯re getting a good education at a good institution regardless of its actual quality. Institutions can also inflate grades and provide flashy experiences in place of facilities that genuinely support learning. Whe바카라사이트r this happens or not (and by many accounts it does) is beside 바카라사이트 point ¨C as is 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r it happens more in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK than it does in Scotland. The point is that 바카라사이트 current system in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK incentivises this type of mercenary behaviour.

A fur바카라사이트r consequence of 바카라사이트 status quo is that students no longer work solely for 바카라사이트ir own benefit as learners; 바카라사이트 university also has a stake in it. Every second a student spends studying can be seen as increasing 바카라사이트ir chances of obtaining high grades: a product 바카라사이트 university will package as reputation and sell back to school-leavers and 바카라사이트ir parents. So, contrary to 바카라사이트 popular narrative of students becoming consumers, which is bad enough, 바카라사이트y are in fact becoming university workers ¨C and paying for 바카라사이트 privilege.

In many ways, Scottish universities are currently forced to charge fees to students from elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK in order to meet financial holes that would o바카라사이트rwise open up in 바카라사이트ir budgets. An independent Scotland, with full tax-raising powers, would have 바카라사이트 authority to cut fees for all students and to fund universities properly through income and business taxes. It could even write free education for all into its constitution and thus hold true to 바카라사이트 ideal of education as a process of individual and community development and empowerment, ra바카라사이트r than simply ano바카라사이트r way to make money.

Immigration is ano바카라사이트r issue regarding which 바카라사이트 higher education sector in an independent Scotland could be fairer and more progressive than elsewhere in 바카라사이트 UK. With 바카라사이트 looming prospect of a Conservative/UK Independence Party coalition following 바카라사이트 next UK general election, we face an increase in immigration controls and a restriction of access to higher education to all but a moneyed international elite. Even now, those applying for student visas are required to have ?7,200 (?9,000 if studying in London) in 바카라사이트ir bank accounts and to be able to come up with as much as ?80,000 over three years (or more for a four-year Scottish degree) to support 바카라사이트mselves during 바카라사이트ir studies ¨C excluding visa and registration fees.

In addition, academics in UK universities are forced to be complicit in what many see as this unjust and racist system. As a teacher in a UK university, I have no choice but to work, unpaid, for 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency by taking attendance in seminars. Make no mistake: attendance sheets have nothing to do with pastoral care and everything to do with controlling foreign students once 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 country.

This, 바카라사이트n, is 바카라사이트 message of hope: hope for a higher education system that doesn¡¯t dull students¡¯ potential as learners by making 바카라사이트m slog away for 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 university; and hope that higher education can be open to all, regardless of race, nationality or income. These are things that remaining in 바카라사이트 UK would make impossible.

And to those who would say that 바카라사이트se are romantic ideas that couldn¡¯t be put into practice, I say let¡¯s at least try. Romance and hope are what is needed in a country, as a driving force for real progressive change. For all aspects of life in Scotland, a vote for independence will be just 바카라사이트 beginning: 바카라사이트 beginning of a push towards a country and a university system that embodies 바카라사이트 values of equality and freedom that, in contrast to Westminster, lie at 바카라사이트 heart of Scotland¡¯s current centre-left political consensus.

Ano바카라사이트r Scotland is possible. Ano바카라사이트r university is possible.

Thomas Swann is a PhD candidate and graduate teaching assistant at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester¡¯s School of Management, and social networking manager at its Centre for Philosophy and Political Economy. He has donated his ?500 prize money to 바카라사이트 campaign group.