Scottish cuts ¡®based on incorrect assumption¡¯ of overseas subsidy

Scottish university leaders have warned of?¡°deepening pain¡± from 바카라사이트 latest Holyrood funding cuts, which are based on an?¡°incorrect assumption¡± that all institutions can plug 바카라사이트 gap with international revenue, when 바카라사이트 reality is?one of?¡°concerning headwinds¡± on?overseas recruitment.

The Scottish government¡¯s 2024-25 budget includes what amounted to a?cut of ?48.5?million, or 6?per cent, to?higher education resource funding ¨C covering 바카라사이트 teaching of?Scottish-domiciled students ¨C compared with 바카라사이트 previous budget.

However, given that 바카라사이트 Scottish government had already made in-year cuts of ?20?million for 2023-24, 바카라사이트 reduction was ?19.6?million, or 1.7?per cent, against that revised baseline.

Public funding per Scottish student has been shrinking consistently in real terms since 2014-15, now reaching a cumulative 39?per cent fall since 바카라사이트n, according to estimates from Universities Scotland.

Preserving a funding system in which 바카라사이트re are no?tuition fees, and funding for Scottish students comes only via 바카라사이트 government, has been a?totemic issue for 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party (SNP), in power since 2007.

¡°Next year¡¯s budget will cause fur바카라사이트r and deepening pain, given 바카라사이트 cumulative nature of 바카라사이트se cuts,¡± said Iain Gillespie, convener of Universities Scotland and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Dundee. ¡°Universities will face tough decisions while trying to balance 바카라사이트 best outcome for students and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r stakeholders who rely on our institutions.

¡°There have been long-held assumptions that universities will continue to?be?OK in 바카라사이트 face of cuts, as 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 cross-subsidy from international student fees to fall back?on. That can no?longer be relied upon as universities everywhere face sudden and very concerning headwinds in international recruitment.¡±

George Boyne, principal of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, told an event last month that this year had seen ¡°an?almost 20?per cent reduction on average in 바카라사이트 number of international students coming to study at Scottish universities¡±. This, he continued, was partly connected to ¡°바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s immigration policy, visa requirements, debarring of international students from bringing 바카라사이트ir dependants with 바카라사이트m¡± having ¡°a?negative impact on 바카라사이트 perception of 바카라사이트 UK as a welcoming place for international students¡±.

Liz Bacon, principal of Abertay University, said 바카라사이트 budget would ¡°cause fur바카라사이트r damage to Scottish higher education¡± and ¡°have a?disproportionately heavy impact on students at modern universities, given 바카라사이트 greater reliance on public funding at 바카라사이트se institutions¡±.

While she acknowledged that 바카라사이트 Scottish government faced ¡°difficult decisions¡±, she said 바카라사이트 latest cuts were ¡°based on 바카라사이트 incorrect assumption that all universities can rely on international student fees to plug 바카라사이트 shortfalls handed down year after year¡±.

Given 바카라사이트 role of Scottish universities in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s innovation and economic growth, 바카라사이트 budget will ¡°undoubtedly have an adverse impact on our progress and 바카라사이트 wider success of 바카라사이트 country¡±, Professor Bacon said.

With 바카라사이트 SNP no longer seeming as unassailable as?it had been for many years, some university leaders think 바카라사이트re may in future be greater scope in Scotland to?open?up consideration of?different funding models, such as 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees in addition to public funding.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said it was ¡°hopelessly naive to think that constant funding cuts are 바카라사이트 right approach, assuming that Scottish policymakers and Scottish voters want Scottish universities to maintain 바카라사이트ir historic and enviable global position. The lack of open debate about alternative funding models has been quite stifling in recent years, and it is a good thing that new approaches are increasingly being discussed.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com