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Future for Scotland's universities
24/06/2008
The Universities Taskforce - set up to examine the future role and shape of Scotland's universities - has proposed major modernisation of the relationship between the Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council and Scotland's universities.
It has also proposed modernisation of the way in which universities are funded.
The Joint Future Thinking Taskforce, set up in November 2007 by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop and Universities Scotland, makes a series of recommendation in its draft report, published for consultation today.
It recommends that:
- Scotland's universities should become the seventh key sector given their priority position within the Government Economic Strategy and in recognition of their significant contribution to the country's economic, cultural and social wellbeing
- In return for the substantial public funding they receive, universities must clearly demonstrate that Government funded activities are aligned with the Government's purpose of delivering higher levels of sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all
- New criteria should be used to guide the Scottish Government and the SFC through future Spending Reviews. One such criteria is targeted growth in postgraduate numbers
- There should be a new funding system for universities, including a more flexible General Fund for mainstream activity and a Horizon Fund to provide new opportunities and incentives which support delivery of the Government's priorities and also each university's own mission and strengths
- All universities should undertake research as well as teaching with rejection of the 'teaching only' universities proposed in England
- A new Tripartite Advisory Group should be established bringing together universities, the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government, through which the sector will offers its views on how these new funding arrangements should and will continue to operate
- SFC regulation should be significantly relaxed to give universities greater autonomy. This will free up the council to work on implementing key strategic initiatives in partnership with universities and Government, such as improving the links between Scottish business and Scottish higher education
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop said:
"Today's report sets out a framework for a new relationship between the Scottish Government, SFC and our universities for the next 20 years and marks the beginning of the move towards an even more effective and responsive university sector.
"In future, I will expect the sector to demonstrate more explicitly how the funding it receives contributes towards our purpose of increasing sustaining economic growth for all. In return the sector will strengthen its case to continue to receive public resources at a level that will ensure it is nationally and internationally competitive."
Co-Chair of the Taskforce, Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of the University of Glasgow, Sir Muir Russell said:
"The Taskforce has delivered more freedom and more influence for universities in Scotland. In return we will continue to demonstrate ways in which universities transform Scotland for the better.
"The report hasn't solved the funding issues facing the higher education sector in the coming years but it has given us an unprecedented opportunity to make our case directly to the heart of Government."
John McClelland, Chair of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, said:
"The work of the Taskforce and its report provide a platform for new approaches for funding the provision of learning and conduct of research at our higher education institutions.
"The changes envisaged will strengthen the position and support the future of the sector within Scotland. They will also provide an opportunity to re-position the role of the Funding Council to become an organisation that is less involved in the administration of institutions and more focussed on outcomes.
"All of us at the Council look forward to the challenge of responding to this opportunity."
The report has been issued for consultation today, ahead of a stakeholder summit in August.
The Joint Future Thinking Taskforce was set up in November last year. Its remit was to consider:
- How to optimise and shape the contribution which Scottish universities can make during the next 20 years to the Scottish economy, culture and society and to the political priorities of the Scottish Government
- What opportunities can be created and what barriers need to be overcome to achieve that; and
- What resources will be needed and how they will be provided.
It agreed to produce a framework which would form the basis of a joint action plan that would also set down a series of challenges from the Scottish Government to universities and from universities to the Scottish Government.
The new relationship will be underpinned by a new set of roles and responsibilities which, when implemented, will play a key role in delivering a smarter Scotland.
The report also sets out:
- Our shared ambition for universities in the 21 century
- The context within which they will operate and in which their staff and students will live, work and study.
- The principles which should guide the Scottish Government in future funding of universities.
At present, university funding is largely allocated on a formulaic basis by the Scottish Funding Council.
The Spending Review 2007 allocation to Scotland's universities is £1.036 billion/£1.082 billion/ £1.182 billion, representing a 2.9 per cent real terms increase across the Spending Review period.