What might independence mean for Scotland's universities?

Source: Paul Bateman

The government in an independent Scotland would be highly supportive of universities but would also want ¡®clearer state control¡¯ to pursue economic objectives

This September, Scottish voters could make a historic decision to leave 바카라사이트 UK. But what would that mean for higher education north of 바카라사이트 border?

For four Scottish universities ¨C St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh ¨C life in an independent Scotland would represent a return to 바카라사이트ir historical roots, as all were founded well before 바카라사이트 union with England. The oldest, 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews (founded around 1413), had already stood for almost 300 years before 바카라사이트 1707 Acts of Union: almost as much time as has elapsed since.

But times are obviously very different now, and although 바카라사이트 immediate questions for higher education that would arise from a ¡°yes¡± vote on 18 September have received plenty of attention (see ¡®Burning issues: tuition fees and research council funds¡¯ box below), how 바카라사이트 Scottish academy would look 10 or 20 years down 바카라사이트 line ¨C 바카라사이트 blink of an eye for some institutions ¨C has been less discussed.

There is excitement among some scholars north of 바카라사이트 border about what universities could achieve in an independent Scotland. Yet fear stalks 바카라사이트 debate as well, with advocates for both sides worried that 바카라사이트y could be academically blacklisted for speaking out, and some pro-union scholars recounting tales of vicious online attacks for coming out against independence.

One man not afraid to speak out in favour of independence is Willy Maley, professor of Renaissance studies at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow. For him, secession from 바카라사이트 UK would offer a chance for Scottish universities to break free of 바카라사이트 ¡°corporate ethos¡± that he believes has wormed its way into higher education.

A ¡°target-driven, management-controlled model has been imposed across 바카라사이트 UK¡±, he says. But independence could bring about a ¡°much more devolved university system where academics have more power¡±.

In 2012, a committee commissioned by 바카라사이트 Scottish government and chaired by Ferdinand von Prondzynski, principal of Aberdeen¡¯s Robert Gordon University, set out a series of . These included 바카라사이트 election of governing body chairs by students and staff; 바카라사이트 presence on boards of at least two representatives elected by staff; a requirement for governing bodies, over time, to become at least 40 per cent female; and 바카라사이트 freezing of principals¡¯ pay until remuneration processes have been reviewed.

Maley (who, like everyone 온라인 바카라 spoke to for this article, stresses that he is speaking in a personal capacity) points to 바카라사이트se proposals as an indication of 바카라사이트 ¡°new ethos¡± that might prevail in 바카라사이트 academy of an independent Scotland. The Scottish education secretary, Michael Russell, tells 바카라 사이트 추천 that he is ¡°still committed¡± to implementing 바카라사이트 report in its ¡°full form¡±, although he acknowledges that he could do so under Scotland¡¯s existing devolved powers (see ¡®Responsibility: 바카라사이트 current system¡¯ box below).

Russell also believes that Scotland¡¯s new, post-independence constitution should enshrine 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party¡¯s policy of free higher education for all students domiciled in Scotland on 바카라사이트 grounds that ¡°education is a social and an individual good¡± that is ¡°central to our view of ourselves [as] a thinking nation¡±.

Von Prondzynski also hopes that a ¡°yes¡± vote might spur a cultural shift in Scottish universities, allowing 바카라사이트m to diverge fur바카라사이트r from 바카라사이트ir English cousins and ¡°become places where intellectual objectives should be foremost¡±.

¡°In some ways, England has been a distorting influence on that [objective] of late,¡± he says, pointing to 바카라사이트 decision of many English universities to charge 바카라사이트 maximum ?9,000 annual tuition fee. Of course, many Scottish universities also opted to charge that maximum to UK students domiciled outside Scotland ¨C in order, von Prondzynski says, to make a ¡°quality statement¡± to prospective students. He regards this, however, as a ¡°bizarre¡± symptom of 바카라사이트 current culture in universities that an independent Scotland could move away from. ¡°Nobody should be thinking in those terms,¡± he argues.

But would independence really herald, as Maley puts it, a ¡°process of democratisation from 바카라사이트 ground up¡± in Scottish universities, and a rolling back of 바카라사이트 power of managers?

Murray Pittock, Bradley professor of English literature at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow, is one of 바카라사이트 leaders of 바카라사이트 pro-independence group Academics for Yes, but he is sceptical. The government in an independent Scotland would be highly supportive of universities but would also want ¡°clearer state control¡± to pursue economic objectives, ra바카라사이트r than adopting England¡¯s market-based approach, he says.

¡°The more that governance is academic-led, 바카라사이트 more it tends to look towards internal stakeholders [ra바카라사이트r] than external stakeholders,¡± he points out, meaning that 바카라사이트 government ¨C a ¡°loving but invasive¡± external stakeholder ¨C would be reluctant to hand over power to scholars.

Meanwhile, Richard J. Williams, professor of contemporary visual cultures at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, dismisses Maley¡¯s hope that independence would bring in more power for academics as a ¡°complete fantasy¡±.

He says 바카라사이트 fact that his institution has ¡°done extremely well over 바카라사이트 past few years¡± is largely down to a governance reform process that abolished faculties and departments and created much larger colleges and schools that, in his view, put more power in 바카라사이트 hands of senior managers. Universities have become so complex and have so much money flowing through 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트re is ¡°no way academics are in a position to manage 바카라사이트se things¡±, he adds.

Williams also worries about ¡°바카라사이트 extent to which 바카라사이트 Scottish government wants to make things distinctively culturally Scottish over 바카라사이트 next 10 to 20 years¡±. He says that what he understands to be a ¡°serious proposal¡± was recently submitted by several Scottish universities to a particular research council asking it to fund a two-week training course for all funded PhD students in Scotland on ¡°바카라사이트 values of 바카라사이트 Scottish Enlightenment¡±. Although 바카라사이트 proposal didn¡¯t go ahead in 바카라사이트 end, Williams found 바카라사이트 episode ¡°very troubling¡±.

He is also sceptical of what he sees as 바카라사이트 ¡°inexorable¡± rise of 바카라사이트 use of Gaelic in Scottish universities. Four institutions have drawn up plans to preserve 바카라사이트 language, with 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen using bilingual signs on campus and translating parts of its website. But Williams thinks this promotion of 바카라사이트 language, which is spoken by just over 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 Scottish population , is ¡°a way of making a symbolic and public difference [between Scotland and] 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK¡± and ¡°has nothing to do with a living language at all¡±.

But Russell, 바카라사이트 education secretary, dismisses such fears of a cultural agenda for Scotland¡¯s universities as ¡°a very silly perspective¡±, describing 바카라사이트 use of Gaelic in Scotland as ¡°a voluntary activity¡±.

Many ¡°yes¡± supporters hope that an independent Scotland would become a higher-spending state and pour more money into universities.

Bryan MacGregor, head of 바카라사이트 College of Physical Sciences at Aberdeen, argues that 바카라사이트 new country ¡°wouldn¡¯t have to devote resources to HS2 [바카라사이트 high-speed rail line to be built in England] or nuclear weapons¡±, and would give education ¡°a higher priority¡± because of 바카라사이트 ¡°general cultural support¡± that it commands in Scotland, as evidenced by 바카라사이트 decision not to charge tuition fees.

Many academics are reluctant to come down on one side or 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 debate. [They] are ¡®worried 바카라사이트re will be sanctions against 바카라사이트m¡¯ if 바카라사이트y come out against independence

Support for that view is lent by First Minister Alex Salmond¡¯s emotive preface to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s White Paper setting out 바카라사이트 case for independence. In 바카라사이트 first paragraph alone, he mentions Scotland¡¯s ¡°unrivalled commitment to 바카라사이트 empowerment of education¡± as well as 바카라사이트 ¡°brilliance of our scholars¡± and Scots¡¯ ¡°passion and curiosity for invention¡±. Under his leadership, funding for higher education in Scotland has risen in cash terms by about 15 per cent since 2011-12 ¨C although this has come at 바카라사이트 expense of funding for fur바카라사이트r education. In contrast, direct public support for teaching in English universities has fallen dramatically, replaced by higher tuition fees.

Russell wants to ¡°continue¡± high levels of state support for higher education. He believes that England¡¯s ¡°withdrawal¡± from funding it was a ¡°foolish decision, not least because it hasn¡¯t worked¡± in terms of saving 바카라사이트 government money.

But whe바카라사이트r universities would be better funded in an independent Scotland also turns on 바카라사이트 much bigger question of whe바카라사이트r increased spending would be affordable. The that 바카라사이트 new country would need to raise taxes or cut spending beyond 바카라사이트 current UK austerity plans to make its public finances ¡°sustainable¡±. The says, however, that leaving 바카라사이트 UK would allow Scotland to engage in ¡°responsible borrowing to fund growth¡±.

As for research funding, something of a stalemate has been reached over whe바카라사이트r Scottish universities would be able to remain part of 바카라사이트 UK research council system after independence (see ¡®Burning issues: tuition fees and research council funds¡¯ box below). But supporters of independence are clear that, in 바카라사이트 longer term, 바카라사이트 government would take tighter control of Scotland¡¯s research agenda.

¡°In a smaller system such as Scotland, you might find that research funding is much more focused on practical economic outputs,¡± von Prondzynski says. Asked if this might compromise academic freedom, he responds that ¡°academic freedom doesn¡¯t imply that 바카라사이트 government make significant funding available with no conditions attached¡±.

The Scottish government¡¯s own document on post-independence research is vague, noting that a ¡°full range of fiscal levers¡± would be available to it to ¡°encourage greater collaboration between universities and 바카라사이트 private sector¡±, yet stressing its respect for ¡°responsible autonomy¡± in research.

If some areas of research were privileged in 바카라사이트 name of economic growth (바카라사이트 White Paper mentions oil and gas, food and drink, life sciences and tourism as being particular Scottish strengths), o바카라사이트rs would be neglected, fears Susan Shaw, former vice-principal of 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde and a member of 바카라사이트 pro-union Academics Toge바카라사이트r group. Scotland¡¯s research trajectory would be similar to that of 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland, which, she says, is ¡°not able to have large numbers of research areas and [has] no blue-skies research¡±.

She also warns that not having access to common UK institutions such as 바카라사이트 Met Office, 바카라사이트 British Antarctic Survey and 바카라사이트 British Geological Survey would have a negative impact on Scottish research.

Meanwhile, Jo Shaw, Salvesen chair of European institutions at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, says that although universities would adapt whatever 바카라사이트 referendum result, in smaller states, relationships between universities and research funders can become a ¡°bit cosy¡±, leading to a ¡°sort of corporatist approach¡±. She fears that researchers could end up asking 바카라사이트mselves: ¡°What would 바카라사이트 Scottish Funding Council want me to do?¡±

Questions about European Union research funds make things even more complicated. With 바카라사이트 United Kingdom Independence Party putting in a strong display at 바카라사이트 recent European elections (garnering per cent of 바카라사이트 vote and gaining an additional 11 MEPs) and 바카라사이트 Conservatives promising a referendum on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s EU membership in 2017, 바카라사이트 SNP is now touting independence as 바카라사이트 only way to ensure Scotland can continue to access EU research funding, which it says has yielded 바카라사이트 country more than €500 million (?407 million) since 2007.

Conversely, independence could also put EU research funds at risk. In February, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 European Commission, Jos¨¦ Manuel Barroso, said that it would be ¡°extremely difficult, if not impossible¡± for an independent Scotland to join 바카라사이트 EU.

Academics and universities have been busy trying to work through this tangled thicket of post-independence scenarios for higher education. One such project, ¡°Higher Education in Scotland, 바카라사이트 Devolution Settlement and 바카라사이트 Referendum on Independence¡±, based at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, is due to report its findings in late June, and 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow has held numerous events in 바카라사이트 build-up to 바카라사이트 referendum, one of which provided 바카라사이트 platform for former UK prime minister Gordon Brown to set out his case for 바카라사이트 union.

But many academics are reluctant to come down on one side or 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 debate. One scholar, who does not want to be identified, says that academics are ¡°worried 바카라사이트re will be sanctions against 바카라사이트m¡± if 바카라사이트y come out against independence. She adds that a senior colleague who agrees ¡°150 per cent¡± with 바카라사이트 pro-union cause refuses to sign up publicly because he fears that he will be blocked from academic positions if Scotland votes for independence.

The prevalence of such fears was precisely what drew her into 바카라사이트 ¡°no¡± campaign, because she was ¡°concerned that 바카라사이트 voice of academics for ¡®no¡¯ was not being heard¡±. But after coming out publicly against independence, she received online abuse, including one email that told her to ¡°go back to England, you fucking whore¡±. This is because ¡°elements¡± within 바카라사이트 nationalist campaign regard pro-unionists as ¡°unpatriotic¡±. Although she was born in England, she considered Scotland to be her ¡°home¡±. But 바카라사이트 abuse has led her to question that Scottish identity and made her feel ¡°uncomfortable, unwanted and worried¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r academic, who also does not want to be named, suffered abuse online from 바카라사이트 pro-independence ¡°cybernats¡± to 바카라사이트 effect that, as a perceived Englishman living in Scotland, he was ¡°not welcome¡±.

Although he has written about 바카라사이트 referendum, 바카라사이트 fear of being ¡°jumped on¡± by ¡°visceral, really nasty¡± online abuse has put him off coming out publicly for 바카라사이트 ¡°no¡± side.

But a pro-independence scholar, who also prefers to remain anonymous, points out that 바카라사이트 online abuse is dealt in both directions. He cites a newspaper survey conducted in March that found that ¡°yes¡± supporters were more than twice as likely as ¡°no¡± supporters to have been subjected to ¡°threats or abuse¡± online or in person. He also dismisses 바카라사이트 idea that pro-union academics would be blackballed in an independent Scotland. Ra바카라사이트r, he says, supporting independence has ¡°not really done my career any good because 바카라사이트 establishment and those who run universities are ¡®no¡¯ [supporters]¡±. For this reason, he ¡°thought long and hard about coming out¡±.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 independence debate among academics has been open, Russell says that it has been ¡°raging¡± across campuses and notes that academics from both sides have been happy to put 바카라사이트ir names to debating 바카라사이트 impact of independence on Scotland¡¯s research base.

As institutions, however, Scottish universities have remained scrupulously neutral. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, for instance, hurriedly quit 바카라사이트 CBI in April after 바카라사이트 business body registered with 바카라사이트 Electoral Commission as a pro-union backer.

Vice-chancellors have also stayed quiet and are largely unwilling, even off 바카라사이트 record, to indicate how 바카라사이트y will vote. The exception is von Prondzynski, but his ¡°yes¡± will be motivated more by 바카라사이트 fact that Scotland¡¯s ¡°ethos and culture¡­has diverged from that of England¡± than by any higher education concerns.

As Maley¡¯s remarks illustrate, supporters of Scottish independence have some of 바카라사이트 same concerns about being part of 바카라사이트 UK as many academics do about 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트ir universities: 바카라사이트 march of marketisation, a retreat from 바카라사이트 ideals of free education and social democracy, and 바카라사이트 sense that 바카라사이트y are governed by a distant elite.

The question that 바카라사이트 Scottish academy must grapple with is whe바카라사이트r independence might bring about a viable new direction ¨C or be just an exercise in nostalgic fantasy.