Education in Scotland: ‘More needed’ says Universities Scotland after extra £30m Government support announced

Universities Scotland, the representative body of Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions, has said that ‘more is needed’ to support universities after the Scottish Government announced a further £30 million of support today.

Universities Scotland says 'more is needed' to support universities across Scotland (Photo: Andrew Milligan).

Addressing Parliament today, education secretary John Swinney announced that a further £30 million of support has been allocated to help resolve financial difficulties affecting students and universities across Scotland.

However, according to their estimations, Universities Scotland found that the Scottish Government has provided just a third of the required funding needed for higher institutions and, as result, the body claims that ‘more is needed.’

In their submission to tomorrow’s Scottish Government Education and Skills committee, Universities Scotland estimates that the sector has paid out £32.5m in accommodation refunds alone whilst facing losses of £132m from lost income in residences, catering and conferences.

Speaking about the funding announced by the education secretary today, Alastair Sim, Universities Scotland director, said: “We’re supportive of action to address student hardship.

"More widely, we want this week’s Scottish Budget to support the full range of universities’ contributions to students’ success.

"So we’re seeking sustainable Scottish Government funding of teaching and pastoral support at university, alongside investment in our research and innovation contributions to the recovery.”

Of the new funds announced, £20 million of this will provide further hardship support for students across Scotland – including students who are having to pay rent on properties they currently cannot occupy.

The remaining £10m will be used to help colleges and universities which have lost revenue –for example, if they have refunded rents for accommodation which is not being used.

However, the news comes after the Welsh Government gave its 9 universities- in comparison to Scotland’s 19- a further £40m worth of support last week.

Speaking at Parliament today, the education secretary said the pandemic has caused additional financial difficulties for students and gave the example that many students who were reliant on part time jobs, have found themselves out of work.

He also noted that the on-going restrictions around student accommodation are causing difficulties for students and educational institutions.

Mr Swinney said: “We are hugely grateful to our students and our educational institutions for the way in which they are co-operating with us, and helping us to tackle Covid.

"We hope that this support will help them to manage, as they do that.”

Mr Swinney also said today that universities and colleges’ ‘staggered return’ in Scotland is currently ‘in review’.

Universities Scotland’s evidence will be presented at the Education and Skills Committee tomorrow, Wednesday January 27, and hopes to highlight the impact of the staggered restart of teaching in higher education.

In a statement about their briefing, Universities Scotland said: “We call on the Scottish Government to offer critical worker status to university staff who are supporting students still in residence, delivering essential teaching, and undertaking research functions.

"We also highlight the importance of ensuring students who legitimately use the wellbeing exemption to make a permitted change of household do not then find themselves subject to on-the-spot fines and inadvertent criminalisation.”

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