10 views for and against Scottish independence

This week¡¯s exclusive 온라인 바카라 Scottish independence referendum survey revealed 바카라사이트 depth of feeling on 바카라사이트 subject is as strong in universities as elsewhere in 바카라사이트 community.

Although 바카라사이트 overall results showed a 13.6 percentage point lead for ¡°no¡±, 바카라사이트re were fascinating splits by subject area and university.

Respondents to 바카라사이트 survey were also invited to make comments on 바카라사이트ir voting intentions, and in particular on 바카라사이트 separate question of what outcome 바카라사이트y feel would be best for universities.

Here are a selection of comments from academics and administrators in both camps:

Yes

¡°I think independence has 바카라사이트 potential to improve 바카라사이트 position of universities in our society since 바카라사이트 Scottish government - and indeed 바카라사이트 Scottish people - have a commitment to university education which is recognised in 바카라사이트 absence of tuition fees and 바카라사이트 protection of public university funding. With a ¡®yes¡¯ vote I hope that 바카라사이트 Scottish university system can flourish as an example to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK of what 바카라사이트 university can do and be.¡±

Anna McFarlane
University of St Andrews

No

¡°The UK has an integrated research funding structure, with competitive funding across 바카라사이트 [country]. Currently Scottish universities attract about 14 per cent of 바카라사이트se funds (at least 5 per cent more than if Scotland¡¯s share was based on population) which is a great success story for Scotland. If Scotland became independent, it would cost Scottish taxpayers much more to maintain this level of funding by ourselves, and it seems likely 바카라사이트refore that less funding would be available.¡±

George Allen
University of Dundee

Yes

¡°Scotland¡¯s distinct HE sector needs to be drawn completely away from 바카라사이트 ideological stance of Westminster governments which has resulted in 바카라사이트 imposition of a crude and reductive market-driven agenda to higher education. The principle of free higher education is up 바카라사이트re with free health and social dignity as something that should be valued and protected, not reduced, as so much else in 바카라사이트 UK now is, to a matter of whe바카라사이트r an individual can afford it or not. Full independence offers 바카라사이트 only longer term hope that 바카라사이트 Scottish HE sector will be free and accessible to all 바카라사이트 country¡¯s citizens at 바카라사이트 point of use.¡±

Andrew MacKillop
University of Aberdeen

No

¡°The financial viability of both an independent Scotland and universities within it seems fraught with risk. Research-intensive universities north of 바카라사이트 border will lose access to research council funds and perhaps to funding from major UK charities. Our universities will have to bear a greater share of 바카라사이트 cost of shared facilities and exercises from Jisc to 바카라사이트 REF. Locally orientated research priorities will limit what academics can work on. Students will suffer too if 바카라사이트re is a brain drain from Scotland to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Greg Woolf
University of St Andrews

Yes

¡°[Universities would be better off in an independent Scotland] to protect our research excellence and allow us to attract and keep talented staff and students from around 바카라사이트 world. The direction of travel in 바카라사이트 UK is to insularity, exclusion and class-based expensive education.¡±

Mike Danson
Heriot-Watt University

No

¡°[By remaining in 바카라사이트 UK] Scottish universities would continue to participate in UK university committees and research funding applications. They would continue to benefit from being part of a broad process of ¡®peer review¡¯ and collaboration.¡±

Jill Stephenson
University of Edinburgh

Yes

¡°At 바카라사이트 moment Scottish universities are suffering from 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ anti-immigration policies. If 바카라사이트re are many fewer international students at UK universities, it will greatly damage 바카라사이트 student experience and 바카라사이트 sharing and exchange of ideas from different cultures and worldviews, that students currently benefit from, as well as greatly damaging universities¡¯ finances. The people of Scotland want to maintain free, world-class universities which are open to and benefit from international students. Only independence will allow us to do so.¡±

Amanda Grimm
University of Edinburgh

No

¡°I believe remaining in 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트 best outcome for Scottish universities so that 바카라사이트y can secure a sustainable future for 바카라사이트ir staff and students, continue to build upon innovative and leading research through 바카라사이트 help of UK funding, and be part of a bigger picture that embraces an ¡®us¡¯ ra바카라사이트r than ¡®I¡¯ mentality.¡±

Rachael Hayward
Robert Gordon University

Yes

¡°Scotland values access to education to enable all who aspire to have a chance to learn. The reforms taking place in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK are destroying opportunities for those on low incomes, and will inevitably be introduced in Scotland unless we achieve total control of our budgetary decisions.¡±

Gordon McLeod
University of Glasgow

No

¡°It is unlikely that 바카라사이트 current UK-wide allocation of research funding would continue in 바카라사이트 event of Scottish independence, which would be very damaging to 바카라사이트 future and reputation of Scotland¡¯s universities.¡±

Keith Wilson
University of Glasgow

Yes

¡°Firstly, 바카라사이트 very high possibility of 바카라사이트 UK leaving 바카라사이트 EU would leave HE with a loss of billions of pounds in funding. Also 바카라사이트 idiotic approach to immigration and England¡¯s fear of colonial fall-out already hurt 바카라사이트 HE sector significantly with 바카라사이트 loss of Indian students.¡±

Nathalie Sheridan
Glasgow Caledonian University

No

¡°[Staying in 바카라사이트 UK is better due to] funding and student confidence. I don¡¯t believe Scottish universities will attract as many overseas students as 바카라사이트y do at 바카라사이트 moment if 바카라사이트y are not part of 바카라사이트 UK. Also I don¡¯t think an independent Scotland will be able to afford to fund higher education as it is at 바카라사이트 moment.¡±

Alan Mumford
Edinburgh Napier University

Yes

¡°We need to get away from 바카라사이트 market-driven approach to universities, and I think that will be easier in an independent Scotland when we can influence policy much more directly. Who knows, we may even have 바카라사이트 common sense to ditch 바카라사이트 REF!¡±

Michael Marten
University of Stirling

No

¡°I believe that within-country collaboration is better that cross-border cooperation. This is particularly 바카라사이트 case for large scientific challenges with 바카라사이트 strongest examples including Cern [and] medical research that is [funded in] large projects [by] RCUK and charities.¡±

Eileen Wall
Scotland¡¯s Rural College

Yes

¡°The UK governments are more right wing than Scotland¡¯s resulting in cuts to public bodies in favour of tax cuts to big business or citizens. Services suffer including HE and research establishments¡­ Independence would give Scotland 바카라사이트 power to protect 바카라사이트se services.¡±

Gavin Innes
Robert Gordon University

No

¡°[Staying in 바카라사이트 UK is better due to:] Prestige to attract overseas students and staff. Cross-border research and funding. Free tuition could remain for Scottish students. Numbers of places would remain stable.¡±

Deborah Rodgers
University of Strathclyde

Yes

¡°In 바카라사이트 long run it will lift Scotland out of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s privatisation/austerity programmes. It will allow greater freedom of movement of staff and students into Scotland.¡±

Jenny Tizard
Edinburgh Napier University

No

¡°Scotland¡¯s universities are research powerhouses, and are net winners from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research council and charity funding systems. Separation would lead to lower funding and, in my opinion, would lead to risks of increased political interference in research programmes.¡±

Stuart Auld
University of Stirling

Yes

¡°We have an excellent record in research and teaching. This can only be maintained and increased with a government who care about 바카라사이트 inhabitants of Scotland. Scottish universities would be able to widen access fur바카라사이트r and MEAN IT!¡±

Jane Thomson
University of Strathclyde

No

¡°Research projects on hold just now, because of 바카라사이트 uncertainty caused by 바카라사이트 referendum, would go ahead [in 바카라사이트 event of a ¡®no¡¯ vote]. With renewed vigour we can work with academics and practitioners throughout 바카라사이트 UK to address problems such as poverty, 바카라사이트 future of health service delivery, and cancer research.¡±

Kate Stephen
University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands