Let universities charge whatever they want, urges senior academic

Published on Monday 11 April 2011 19:13

The former president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh has called for a United States-style funding system for those parts of Scottish universities, which would see some degree subjects financed entirely by tuition fees and training contracts.

Universities would even be allowed to make "deals" with banks to cover tuition fees, which would then see the students paying back the cash over about 15 years.

Lord Sutherland also calls for an end to "government interference" in universities and says other departments, such as science and vocational courses, "could evolve" and eventually be privately run, too.

He calls on the next Scottish Government to examine the "feasibility" of the move in the wake of the UK government's decision to back the Browne Report, which called for the lifting of the cap on tuition fees in England.

Lord Sutherland said: "The current policy of the Browne Report for England is to charge large undergraduate fees and to withdraw other funding from all 'non-priority' areas, ie arts, humanities and social sciences (including law).

"Universities have reacted by indicating that, across the system, they will charge higher fees than the government either want or think acceptable.

"My recommendation to those universities who can, is to privatise those faculties which the government is refusing to fund, and in so doing to set themselves free of government interference.

"They would set their own fees at a level which allows a 'needs-blind' admission system," Lord Sutherland said.

"This latter, which is a staple of some of the best US private universities, would be designed to channel a significant percentage of income from fees and other sources to support the best students who could not otherwise afford to enrol."

And, challenging politicians to hold "mature discussions" on such changes, he adds: "Scottish universities would be well advised to prepare for very tough post-election bargaining."

Lord Sutherland, who is due to argue for the changes at a St Andrews University-hosted lecture tonight, calls on universities to lobby the next Scottish Government to back the policy, even though Labour, the SNP and Lib eral Democrats have all ruled out tuition fees.

The Scottish Conservatives back a deferred tuition fee to fund higher education.Lord Sutherland said: "It would be universities saying we no longer look to the government to provide basic funding for these areas and would charge fees, instead, in these subjects including law and business studies. Universities would be saying that this is no longer a public sector-funded activity.

"In England, universities are no longer receiving funding for these areas, but are still subject to government regulation. I'm suggesting we go the next step and set up in business. They could talk about the level of fees, which I would say should be about 9,000 for a course, but which could vary in price.

"Universities might be able to go to banks and do deals to fund fees of students over 15 years, for example. This is a way of freeing up universities here."

However, education secretary Michael Russell ruled out tuition fees and the privatisation of higher education. He said: "By making access to university a commodity you have to buy, they have inevitably invited people to conclude wholesale privatisation is the way forward. This is yet another reason why the SNP … will not impose tuition fees - upfront or back-door"

The head of the body representing Scottish universities called on funding for faculties such as the arts, humanities and social sciences. Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland said: "If access to university education is to remain free in Scotland, it is just as important to fund these disciplines and ensure they remain open to all."

Professor Pete Downes, principal of the University of Dundee, said Lord Sutherland's plans did not "sit well alongside state-supported tuition", but he backed a graduate contribution.