Summit on higher education

The cross-party summit on higher education has been organised by Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to discuss issues to be included in a consultation on higher education. It includes the political parties, university and college leaders, industry representatives as well as NUS and UCU.

UCU has consistently called for the consultation to address wider issues and welcomes the inclusion of all elements of higher education including shape and structure of universities including governance.

UCU Scottish official, Mary Senior, said 'The discussion today is not just about funding and we hope the consultation will show the benefit of higher education for all of society.

'We will point out to the industry representative that big business should pay its fair share for the numerous benefits it receives from higher education and call for them to do more to develop the ideas created by university researchers.

'The political parties will be represented at the summit and we call on them to set out their plans for higher education funding before the election. Staff and students showed the strength of feeling against fees with thousands of Scottish protestors travelling to London and they will not put up with another Parliament introducing fees against the wishes of the electorate.

'However, whatever the outcome today, universities face public sector cuts which would decimate our universities. We call on the Scottish Government to ensure the budget on Wednesday will allow our universities to develop Scotland's new economy.'