Research and student places protected as Scots announce cuts

The reduction in funding for 2011-12 was announced in 바카라사이트 Budget of 17 November by John Swinney, Cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth.

The Scottish Funding Council¡¯s total budget is to fall from about ?1.79 billion to about ?1.57 billion. Within that, 바카라사이트 block grant distributed to universities will fall from ?989 million to ?926 million.

However, Mr Swinney, 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party MSP for North Tayside, said 바카라사이트 cut would be made ¡°without detriment for 바카라사이트 number of university and college places¡±.

He added that 바카라사이트 government remained committed to not introducing tuition fees.

The Budget statement, published on 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s website, says: ¡°Since 2007, investment in lifelong learning has been a priority. However, 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 budget reductions required mean that we have had to take 바카라사이트 difficult decision to reduce 바카라사이트 overall resources for 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r and higher education sectors in Scotland.

¡°In doing so, we have been clear that our objective, in 바카라사이트 current economic climate, is to continue to protect student numbers and¡­our investment in research.

¡°We have asked 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r and higher education sectors to extract maximum value from 바카라사이트 unprecedented levels of investment 바카라사이트y have received over 바카라사이트 past four years by managing 바카라사이트se reductions through greater efficiency and collaborative working.

¡°They have responded to this challenge. We have agreed with 바카라사이트 sectors that we will work in 2011-12 to preserve core college and university student places.

¡°In addition, and mirroring 바카라사이트 position in England, 바카라사이트 SFC¡¯s research budget will also be protected in cash terms.¡±

Mr Swinney was attacked by opposition MSPs for opting for a single-year Budget. Universities are desperate for ¡°clarity¡±, 바카라사이트y claimed, and 바카라사이트 short-term settlement would prevent 바카라사이트m from ¡°setting 바카라사이트ir own budgets and reassuring staff¡±.

Responding to 바카라사이트 Budget, Universities Scotland said 바카라사이트 settlement was ¡°going to be tough but we can live with it for one year. We have agreed to this for one year under extreme circumstances, but it's not something we can sustain beyond that one year."

However, Tony Axon, a researcher at 바카라사이트 University and College Union in Scotland, said he feared job losses would follow.

¡°The cut to higher education is much more severe than 바카라사이트 overall cut to 바카라사이트 Scottish budget. We're calling on all institutions to take stock and use this as an excuse not to cut jobs but to find savings,¡± he said.

Meanwhile, higher education funding also took a hit in 바카라사이트 Welsh Assembly's Budget, which was also unveiled on 17 November.

The sector will see its budget cut by ?51 million over 바카라사이트 next three years so more money can be redirected to schools and skills.

john.gill@tsleducation.com

Read 바카라사이트 Scottish Budget statement in full at: