Smith: Last thing we need in our universities is more government control

The chairmen of 13 university courts in Scotland have today written an open letter warning the SNP Government against interfering with the independence of university principals.

Liz Smith MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning, said:

"This is a very clear message to Mike Russell and the SNP Government – hands off. As Universities Scotland said last week, universities are autonomous legal entities and the appointment procedures for the university's principal is a matter for each institution's governing body.

"The fact that 13 chairmen of university courts have written an open letter to this effect is proof of how seriously they view this matter, and how dismayed they are by the SNP Government's attitude. The last thing we need in our universities is more government control. The SNP Government must get this message loud and clear."

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