On Tuesday 28 January, the University of Edinburgh announced a partnership with other Higher Education (HE) institutions to back local economic growth.
University of Edinburgh Principal Sir Peter Mathieson, in his capacity as Chair of Edinburgh and Southeast Scotland’s Higher Education/Further Education Strategy Group, signed the pledge to aid community wealth and sustainable development.
The agreement was created by the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal in 2022. The commitment encourages universities and colleges to promote actions to “ensure that money that’s made by local businesses and projects stays local,” according to a university press release.
The pledge aims to address inequality and deprivation with performance improvement through five themes: research, development and innovation; integrated regional employability and skills; transport; culture; and housing.
In a statement, Peter Mathieson said: “Universities and colleges in the region are collectively harnessing their influence to drive change to better serve the communities we are a part of.”
In response to the pledge, some students are happy the university is taking measures to help locals. One student told The Student: “It’s good to know there is going to be some sort of return to Scottish people, to help out the local area.”
Others question the financial stability of the deal at a time when their university experiences have been marked by staff strikes and disruptions, due to disputes over pay in recent years.
One fourth-year student said: “It’s very hypocritical and feels like he is washing over the fact he’s not paying his staff.”
Another agreed, adding: “I could imagine it would feel like a slap in the face to the staff that spent years striking to be paid fairly to no avail for that man to just pledge money elsewhere.”
Despite criticisms specific to the university, the City Region Deal welcomes the support of HE institutions, stating: “By investing in communities, we can help them to grow into thriving and connected places to live, work, spend and socialise.
“[It’s] an approach to economic activity that prioritises wellbeing, putting people and planet over profit.”
“Old College, University of Edinburgh (24923171570)” by LWYang from USA is licensed under CC BY 2.0.