Smith: Time for some clear thinking to sort out SNP’s higher education mess

The SNP's lack of clear thinking on higher education has been further exposed today, after two separate Sunday papers report that:

i) A YouGov poll finds almost 80% believe the SNP's policy of charging students from the rest of the UK for their higher education, but not those from Scotland or the EU, is unfair [see note 1].

ii) Applications from students from the rest of the UK to come and study in Scotland have fallen [see note 2].

Liz Smith MSP, Scottish Conservative Education Spokesperson, said:

"Constitutionally, it is clearly the responsibility of devolved governments to decide their respective policies on higher education, most especially those which heavily influence the setting of fees by our universities.

"That is only right, which is why all political parties and the higher education sector in Scotland support it.

"However, what is also plain is that there is a growing need to address the unacceptable anomalies within the current system. These anomalies mean both students and university departments are increasingly likely to make their decisions based on financial criteria rather than on educational merit.

"As the YouGov poll shows today, there is deep-seated concern amongst the public that the absence of a level playing-field when it comes to fees is potentially deeply damaging to the future of our universities and discriminatory against students of certain UK residence.

"Several key figures in the higher education sector - Sir Andrew Cubie, Sir Anthony Cohen, Sir Stewart Sutherland and Teresa Rees amongst them - have all issued warnings about the long term implications for the UK university system at large if these anomalies are allowed to continue and if there is an absence of an overall UK strategy towards the higher education sector.

"We need greater co-operation on strategic thinking, going well beyond that which already takes place. This would be warmly welcomed by all universities across the UK, particularly in light of the increasing global competition for the sector. There is a growing need for the sector to have a more effective working relationship with national and devolved governments.

"The SNP has found itself in hot water in Scotland - rightly so -for its lack of clear thinking on higher education, particularly on the fees debacle.

"It is time for some new thinking, before the situation becomes untenable."

1. Sunday Times p.9

2. Scotland on Sunday p. 5

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