Universities in Scotland damaged by Westminster ¡®xenophobia¡¯

That is 바카라사이트 view of Michael Russell, 바카라사이트 Scottish education secretary in 바카라사이트 SNP government, who outlined his opposition to UK immigration policy in a speech in Edinburgh today.

Both he and Alistair Carmichael, 바카라사이트 Scottish secretary in 바카라사이트 Westminster government, spoke at 바카라사이트 conference on ¡°Higher Education, 바카라사이트 Devolution Settlement and 바카라사이트 Referendum on Independence¡±, organised by 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council.

¡°The debate south of 바카라사이트 border is being driven by Ukip and by a nasty xenophobia which certainly revolts me and I think revolts many o바카라사이트rs,¡± Mr Russell said, adding that overseas students were treated as ¡°subversive¡± or ¡°freeloaders¡± by UK policy.

He pointed to Higher Education Statistics Agency figures which ¡°show that since 바카라사이트 Coalition came to power 바카라사이트 number of students from India studying at Scottish universities has halved. In 2010-11 바카라사이트re were 3,290 students from India. The latest figures for 2012-13 show just 1,665.

¡°This is daft and self-defeating.¡±

Making his pitch ahead of 바카라사이트 independence referendum in September, he said it was ¡°essential¡± that Scotland was able to set its own policies on migration and citizenship.

¡°Scotland needs to be seen as a welcoming place, open for academic and research business and more than willing to see those of talent staying if 바카라사이트y wish to build lives and careers. That cannot happen without independence.¡±

He added: ¡°If autonomy is good for higher education, might it also be good for this country?¡±

However, Mr Carmichael attacked 바카라사이트 ¡°temerity¡± of Mr Russell to claim 바카라사이트 UK immigration policy was ¡°xenophobic¡± given Scottish universities would continue to charge students from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK tuition fees after independence.

¡°Mike Russell has nothing to offer higher education in his vision of independence,¡± he said.

He also warned 바카라사이트 Scottish government that leaving 바카라사이트 UK means leaving 바카라사이트 UK research councils and 바카라사이트 funding 바카라사이트y provide.

¡°National governments fund national research. There is no international precedent for sharing or replicating a system on 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 current UK funding streams across international borders. And that¡¯s what a vote for independence this September would mean,¡± he said.

¡°Why would a state we had just chosen to leave continue to share funding and expertise?¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com