For immediate use: Monday 27th March 2011
Attn: NEWSDESKS
EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT
NEW UNI FUNDING SETTLEMENT WILL FOLLOW ELECTION
All changes to courses at Glasgow University should be put on hold pending the outcome of the election, Education Secretary Michael Russell said today (Monday), as he met with student representatives to hear of their concerns.
Backing the call from the University Senate for a moratorium pending the outcome of the election, Mr Russell said that the SNP’s commitment to ensure no funding gap opened up with England meant there would be more money for the sector compared to the budget anticipated by the University when it first announced the plans.
Speaking as he joined SNP Glasgow Kelvin candidate Sandra White in meeting with the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Tommy Gore, Mr Russell said:
“The proposed cuts at Glasgow University are based on an outmoded estimate concerning the funding available to the sector over the next few years.. The SNP is fully and publicly committed to increased funding. The Court’s plans for cuts pre-dated the final publication of conclusive figures that allowed that commitment to be made, and therefore have been overtaken by events.
“The SNP Government has an outstanding record of defending our universities and we will go on doing so.
“Since May 2007, universities share of the Scottish budget has gone up, backdoor fees have been abolished, and grant and bursary spending has increased by 25%. All of this without any need to introduce tuition fees in the way Labour did last time they were in power – and which they might well do again, given their very late and half hearted conversion to the principle of free education.
“But we have made a clear pledge: we won’t introduce tuition fees and we won’t allow a funding gap to open up with universities south of the border. What’s more, we have already identified £62million of additional income from students from the rest of the UK and £22 million from EU students. In simple terms, that means more money will be available to Scotland’s universities over the next few years to make sure they keep pace with England.
“The sensible and obvious thing to do is to wait until we know the outcome in May; wait until we know that the SNP Government is back and able to deliver the extra funding our universities need. That’s exactly what the university’s own Senate has called for and they have got it right.”
SNP Glasgow Kelvin candidate Sandra White said:
“The way this university has gone about its business is appalling. They are looking for savings of £20 million over three years out of an annual budget of more than £430 million. That is around 1.5% a year. It simply doesn’t make sense to claim that this small level of savings justifies the massive cuts management are proposing.
“Students and others are right to question the priorities of the University when management salaries are sky high, yet the same management say they cannot make savings without taking an axe to courses. That simply doesn’t wash.
“And all of this before they have the new funding settlement from the next SNP Government.
“There is real anger on campus and across Glasgow. It’s time these proposals were stopped in their tracks. I agree with Michael that they should be withdrawn, and the election should decide what funding is made available for this sector. The SNP’s proposals would make most of these changes completely unnecessary.”
Tommy Gore President of Glasgow University SRC added
"I welcome Michael Russell’s interest in events at Glasgow University.
"The time period of the election should be used for open, transparent and innovative discussion with students, staff and the community on the way ahead for Glasgow University ahead of any final funding decisions"
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