Brian Cox and the students’ association at Dundee University have issued a stern warning to the new SNP Government about the future of university funding in Scotland.
First Minister Alex Salmond has pledged that the “rocks will melt with the sun” before he sees fees introduced in Scotland, but Dundee University Students’ Association and the Hollywood star believe that the issue needs to be addressed with a greater sense of urgency and in more detail.
The moves by around 90 universities in England to charge tuition fees of up to £9000 means that the funding gap between English and Scottish universities could be significantly higher than previously foreseen.
DUSA has recently criticised Dundee University principal Professor Pete Downes on his support for a graduate contribution but believe they can stand together on pressuring government.
Acting president of DUSA Chris Browne said, “We want the same thing as our principal, we want Scottish universities to be among the best in the world and we want every student in Scotland to have fair access to them.
“We have an SNP majority government that has ruled out tuition fees in Scotland and committed to improving student support in Scotland.
“University education in Scotland costs the individual student a great deal in living costs and they are encouraged to rack up irresponsible levels of debt.
“It is all fine and well pledging that ‘rocks will melt the sun’ before fees are introduced but the SNP must act and they must act now on improving student support in Scotland, demonstrating how they will fill the funding gap and guaranteeing that all, regardless of their background or financial capability, have access to the best universities.”
He said the responsibility to fill the funding gap does not just lie with the SNP, but the 90% of the Scottish Parliament who have signed up to the NUS ‘Reclaim Your Voice’ campaign.
MSPs must act to prevent further local cuts to university courses around the country, he added. The quality of higher education is already being eroded across Scotland.
Brian Cox backed the SNP for their record on higher education prior to this month’s Scottish Parliament elections.
He said the SNP’s mandate is only newly minted, but it is “imperative that the First Minister’s vision on the funding of higher education in Scotland begins to take shape in a cohesive and detailed policy as soon as possible in order to stave off the possibility of ‘melting rocks’.
“Any delay will result in an erosion in the excellence of Scottish universities. A standard of excellence which is envied throughout the world.
“For almost 600 years Scotland has been a seat of learning. This is a resource which has contributed greatly to the political, spiritual and economic life of our land.
“In 2013 we will indeed celebrate the 600th anniversary of St Andrews. Let us hope we will celebrate with a thriving, economically viable, further education policy, that is also the envy of the world.”