It would be fair to speculate that the executive team at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will not have had a more uncomfortable hour than the one they endured recently in front of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) committee.
Much of the pressure came from arch-interrogator Mike Russell, the SNP MSP, who continually accused SRUC of lacking strategic direction but it was left to Borders farmer and Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume to open what developed into a considerable cross examination. He asked why the proposed merger between SRUC and Edinburgh University had fallen through after 15 months of negotiations and quoted the university court’s opinion that SRUC had simply wanted to keep too much control over its activities.
SRUC acting chief executive Janet Swadling insisted the merger had remained the preferred option all the way through the discussions but from the outset it had been made clear that the tertiary structure of SRUC was not something that could be put at risk. The so-called ‘Scottish system’ which combines education, research and consultancy services has been fiercely defended through the mergers which created SAC and then SRUC so it is hardly surprising that it should be seen as sacrosanct.
That appeared to the RACCE members not to be sufficient reason. Indeed SNP MSP Dave Thompson suggested the SRUC executive team might have been protecting their own salaries. “It seems people are being paid a huge amount of money and from the accounts it appears that the five people here today are being collectively paid £750,000,” he said. “It (the merger) might not have been financially advantageous to you.”
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SRUC chairman Pat Machray responded by saying costs were continually being managed, particularly in the wake of the four-way merger that had created SRUC. “The reality is that we do need good leadership and it has benefited us greatly, “ he said.
This prompted former education minister Mike Russell to say he objected to salary inflation in higher education and asked bluntly what salary would be paid to the advertised post of chief executive and principal for SRUC. Mr Machray replied he expected the remuneration package to be around £200,000 with Mr Russell in turn expressing “considerable scepticism” over the necessity to pay that much.
During the discussion Ms Swadling had made it clear she was not a candidate for the principal’s position and that this should be an academic role
Mr Russell continued: “It seems to me that you (SRUC) have a considerable problem. There seems to be a vagueness about what your purpose is.
“There is room for a rural university and if it is not filled by yourselves maybe another university will fill it. Maybe even the one you have been speaking with.”
Ms Swadling retorted with a barb to the Government. The ‘U’ in SRUC stood for university but was unused because degree-awarding powers had not been granted. Some 87% of SRUC-educated graduates were accredited through Glasgow University at present with the balance through Edinburgh.
“It would be helpful to know if there is Government support for giving SRUC degree-awarding powers,” she said.
Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson asked if the issues with governance and structure dated back to the merger three years ago of SAC with Elmwood, Oatridge and Barony Colleges. Ms Swadling admitted the merger had left the newly formed SRUC with almost twice the property actually needed. Assets which could be disposed of without affecting operational efficiency were in the process of being sold. The future of the large building at Elmwood College in Fife would depend on plans still to be announced by Fife College.
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asked if the reorganisation had taken into account skills delivery with Ms Swadling assuring her that both further education and higher education needs were being given equal priority. The post of head of education was vacant but assistant heads had been covering the position.
There was much more. The SRUC team was quizzed further on property disposals and forestry education among other topics.
Mike Russell, seemingly unconvinced by the answers, said they only “illustrated uncertainty” in any strategic plan.
Mr Machray was forced into pointing out that he had only been in the chair at SRUC for six weeks.
“I would like to think you would give me time. I fully realise we will have to face up to tough decisions,” he said.
SRUC was represented at the RACCE committee by Mr Machray, Ms Swadling, vice-principal for research Geoff Simm, interim head of professional services Alasdair Cox and SAC Consulting managing director Mike Wijnberg.