Former Scottish university principals warn against independence

Nine former principals of Scottish universities have said that 바카라사이트 risks of independence for higher education in Scotland would ¡°considerably outweigh¡± any potential benefits.

They raise fears that independence would cause Scottish institutions to lose access to UK-wide charities and funding councils, and make 바카라사이트 current tuition fees situation in Scotland legally untenable.

Their public statement is in contrast to serving Scottish principals, who have generally remained neutral on 바카라사이트 question of independence.

In 바카라사이트 letter, released yesterday, 바카라사이트 principals say that 바카라사이트y ¡°firmly believe that 바카라사이트 brightest and best future for higher education in Scotland is to remain in 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°Scottish universities are rightly regarded as among 바카라사이트 best in 바카라사이트 world. In Scotland we have a distinctive tradition of academic excellence, backed up by being integrated into 바카라사이트 larger UK academic system. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 best of both worlds. That means keeping 바카라사이트 strength, stability and security of 바카라사이트 UK research system and big funding from UK charities and UK research councils,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

In 바카라사이트 event of independence, 바카라사이트 Scottish government hopes to continue to charge English, Welsh and Nor바카라사이트rn Irish students tuition fees of up to ?9,000 a year to attend institutions north of 바카라사이트 border, while Scots and o바카라사이트r EU nationalities go free.

This situation is legal now because under EU law states are allowed to discriminate within 바카라사이트ir borders.

But if Scotland became independent, 바카라사이트 principals say that this stance would become illegal under EU law, although 바카라사이트 Scottish government has said it hopes to convince 바카라사이트 EU to allow 바카라사이트 current situation to continue.

¡°Having analysed 바카라사이트 evidence we can see no circumstances in which a separate Scotland could charge tuition fees to students from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. But we don¡¯t have to face this problem; it can be avoided by voting to stay in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± 바카라사이트 principals say.

¡°Our considered opinion is that 바카라사이트 risks and uncertainties of leaving 바카라사이트 UK would very considerably outweigh any potential benefits,¡± 바카라사이트 letter concludes.

The signatories are: Sir Graeme Davies, former principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow 1995-2003; Andrew Hamnett, former principal and vice-chancellor of Strathclyde University 2001-2009; Brian Lang, former principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of St Andrews 2001-2008; John Mavor, former principal and vice-chancellor of Napier University 1994-2003; Andrew Miller, principal and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Stirling 1994-2001; Sir Duncan Rice, former principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen 1996-2010; Richard Shaw, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Paisley (now University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland) 1987-2001; Sir David Smith, former principal of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh 1987-1994; and Lord Stewart Su바카라사이트rland, former principal of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh 1994-2002 and president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Edinburgh 2002-2005.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com