Cuts 'a threat to universities' R&D status'

Published on Monday 26 November 2007 00:19

SCOTLAND could lose its position as a world leader in research and development because of proposed cuts to higher education funding, according to one of Scotland's leading societies.

The Scottish Government's new budget has allocated universities an increase of less than 3 per cent in real terms over the next three years.

Writing in The Scotsman today, Professor Geoffrey Boulton, general secretary of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, says the "disappointing" settlement will mean Scottish universities cannot compete in the competitive global environment.

He says: "The proposed budgetary settlement for the universities is a severe blow.

"It reverses the trajectory of development that has made such an impression internationally and could inhibit universities' capacities to capitalise on these latter gains."

Prof Boulton adds: "It would undo much good if the impression of a system under threat were created internationally. There has already been such a response in some quarters."