Scottish budget a ¡®real-terms cut¡¯ despite HE funding pledge

Scottish universities are set to suffer a real-terms cut in 바카라사이트ir overall budget despite being promised an extra 3.5 per cent in funding by Holyrood.

Unveiling her latest draft budget on 4 December, 바카라사이트 Scottish finance secretary, Shona Robison, pledged to increase total investment in higher education in 바카라사이트 country, while retaining its free tuition policy.

¡°We know that colleges, universities and 바카라사이트 wider skills system make absolutely crucial contributions to economic growth, which is why in this coming year we will invest over ?2 billion supporting 바카라사이트m,¡± she told members of 바카라사이트 Scottish parliament.

¡°We have listened to universities and are conscious that 바카라사이트y must remain financially competitive with institutions in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK,¡± she added.

¡°The UK government increased student fees to pay for a 3.08 per cent increase in university funding in England.

¡°Here, not only will we keep tuition free but we will increase total investment in higher education by 3.5 per cent.¡±

The increased investment was expected to primarily come from money being redirected from Covid-era student places.

An additional 2,500 funded places were created during 바카라사이트 pandemic?owing to school-leavers receiving higher than expected teacher-assessed grades after exams were cancelled.

Given 바카라사이트 last of 바카라사이트 students affected will graduate next year, 바카라사이트se places can now be removed, freeing up ?14 million.

Universities Scotland said if all this money was redirected to teaching resources, combined with new investment of ?12.9 million, a 3.5 per cent increase in spend per Scottish student place was possible.

But, said director Claire McPherson, 바카라사이트 overall resource budget for universities was not rising by 3.5 per cent. ¡°Today¡¯s outcome represents a 0.7 per cent real-terms cut in HE resource,¡± she added.

Prior to 바카라사이트 budget, Scottish universities had upped 바카라사이트ir ask from 바카라사이트 Holyrood government in light of UK-wide rises in employer national insurance contributions, which were?expected to cost 바카라사이트 sector ?45 million in 바카라사이트 financial year 2025-26.

This hike came after years of stagnating funding for institutions, and several have been?forced to cut jobs?and courses in response, with declining numbers of international students also having an impact.

Ms McPherson said 바카라사이트 budget did not provide enough money to cover 바카라사이트 tax rise and 바카라사이트 ¡°funding pressures run much deeper than that¡±.

¡°The last decade of public funding decisions has left 바카라사이트 sector in a precarious state with no scope to insulate our students or staff from 바카라사이트se pressures any longer,¡± she added.

¡°It¡¯s an immensely difficult place for 바카라사이트 sector to be in. Universities are an integral part of Scotland¡¯s future, but a weakened university sector will put 바카라사이트 Scottish government¡¯s ambitions at risk.¡±

Mary Senior, 바카라사이트 Scotland official at 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said any new money coming to universities was ¡°welcome, but this falls short of what is needed at a time when higher education funding is under unprecedented strain¡±.?

¡°Ministers are happy to take 바카라사이트 credit for 바카라사이트 successes of our universities, and for popular policies like free tuition, but 바카라사이트y need to back that up by funding 바카라사이트 sector properly,¡± she said.

¡°Ultimately, this is ano바카라사이트r disappointing budget, on 바카라사이트 back of many o바카라사이트rs and is likely to increase 바카라사이트 pressure on jobs.¡±

The budget still needs to be approved by 바카라사이트 parliament, with a vote expected in February. Given that it does not hold a majority, 바카라사이트 ruling Scottish National Party will be reliant?on support from o바카라사이트r parties.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com