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Funding for colleges and universities
26/02/2010
Funding of £692.7 million for colleges and £1.076 billion for universities was announced today.
The Scottish Government's Budget for 2010-11 is providing universities with an extra £42.9 million for learning, teaching and research compared to the 2009-10 budget. Colleges will get a total cash increase of £44.8 million. This was confirmed in a letter from the Education Secretary Michael Russell to the Scottish Funding Council last night and follows his commitment to provide support for the 7,500 extra students pursuing higher education courses at colleges and universities.
Mr Russell said that real-terms increases for Scotland's colleges and universities will help both sectors remain at the 'heart of the Scottish Government's efforts' to build the economy.
He said:
"This government has an absolute commitment to further and higher education. This Budget comes during an incredibly difficult economic climate. It follows a recession neither predicted nor in our control and a budget slashed by Westminster by more than £500 million.
"This settlement is more than fair in the current climate. It is a real terms increase, providing a total of £1.77 billion for the sector; it's the highest budget since devolution; and it recognises the pressures on colleges and universities as more turn to further and higher education during this time.
"This is why I have asked for a focus on some key priorities including giving priority to young people aged 16 to 24 who want to study at college, the needs of rural colleges and their potential to help small rural businesses deal with economic challenges and continuing support for Curriculum for Excellence.
"Scotland's colleges and universities are central to our ambitions for economic growth. They are at the front-line of building the skills, society and economy we need for the recovery and beyond. Our funding for the SFC reflects our dedication to helping the sectors maintain the quality and excellence for which they are properly renowned."
The letter confirms allocations from the 2010-11 Budget to the Scottish Funding Council, including funding for Scotland's colleges and universities.