UCU calls for support for universities in independence debate

The union today released its manifesto for Scotland's referendum and said it will be urging its members to get involved in the debate. While the union has no preference for one particular constitutional settlement for Scotland, it said all sides of the debate needed to outline their commitment to Scotland's universities.

UCU is calling on all sides to publicly support adequate funding for Scotland's universities, to back Scotland's four-year honours degrees and to reject student tuition fees.

The union also wants Scotland's diverse university sector to continue to have the freedom to determine its own teaching and research and reiterated its calls for an end to the use of exploitative zero-hours contracts.

UCU Scotland President Dave Anderson said: 'Universities are vital for Scotland's social and economic development. UCU is calling on all sides of the constitutional debate to make clear their support for our universities.

'All sides need to set out their commitment to adequate public funding, to maintain Scotland's four-year honours degree and to reject student fees, whatever the constitutional settlement may be.

'There are some very important questions to be answered over the next eleven months before Scotland votes in the historic referendum. UCU looks forward to debating the key issues with all sides and encouraging our members to get involved in the discussion.'

Manifesto for Scotland's Referendum, Oct 13 [79kb]