Reform Scotland, the non-partisan think tank, today releases a new bulletin on the future funding of higher education in the aftermath of yesterday’s announcement of job cuts by the University of Dundee.
The bulletin can be viewed here.
Chris Deerin, Director of Reform Scotland, said:
“If the dreadful news from Dundee University isn’t a wake-up call on the unsustainability of Scotland’s higher education funding structure, then we need to ask ourselves what will be?
“Politicians – government and opposition – need to come together and accept some fundamental truths. Their inaction will inevitably result in more jobs, courses and even possibly institutions going under.
“If we are to maintain university tuition free at the point of use, we need to change the funding system to a fairer, more sustainable arrangement which provides a better balance between taxpayers and graduates.
“One way this could be achieved is through a fee after graduation, to be paid once someone earns more than the Scottish average salary. This would ensure no upfront fee and no interest accrued.
”We have a small window to protect our universities and preserve the right of our children to attend them without paying up front. History will judge our politicians poorly if they are too afraid to lift their heads from the sand.”
ENDS