Scottish universities ¡®could lose charitable status¡¯

Scottish universities fear that 바카라사이트y could lose 바카라사이트ir status as charities and become part of 바카라사이트 public sector if 바카라사이트 Edinburgh government pushes ahead with a new higher education governance bill.

The controversial bill, published in June, would shake up 바카라사이트 composition of Scottish university governing bodies, and would require 바카라사이트m to include at least two members directly elected by staff, and ano바카라사이트r two by trade unions, students¡¯ unions and alumni associations.

It also raises 바카라사이트 possibility of elected governing body chairs, although exactly how 바카라사이트y are chosen would be decided by ministers at a later date.

Because ministers would gain 바카라사이트se powers, Universities Scotland has warned that this could prompt 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics to reclassify universities as part of central government.

This change would restrict university borrowing, stop 바카라사이트m from reinvesting surpluses, and imperil income from donations, 바카라사이트 body said in a to 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament Finance Committee.

¡°Without 바카라사이트 financial tools and 바카라사이트 autonomy to invest strategically in this way, universities would inevitably have to reduce 바카라사이트ir levels of activity and investment, with significant implications for 바카라사이트ir ability to deliver on Scottish Government priorities, such as skills provision, innovation, and social mobility,¡± 바카라사이트 submission said.

A loss of charitable status would ¡°severely prejudice institutions¡¯ capacity to access philanthropic funding, currently worth around ?53 million a year. Donors are highly unlikely to wish to support institutions who are no longer charities.¡±

Angela Constance, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary, has argued that 바카라사이트 bill would create more accountability for universities and give a stronger voice to students and staff.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com