The think tank Reform Scotland has released a bulletin on the funding of higher education following debates about whether free tuition is sustainable.
Titled “how to maintain university tuition ‘free at the point of use,’” the bulletin advocates for the maintenance of free tuition but recommends a graduate fee – suggesting £5,500 as a starting point – to be paid once the graduate earns more than the average salary in Scotland (£38,000 in 2025).
The think tank also proposes using a graduate fee as a way to fill skill gaps in Scotland – where those who work in certain sectors or regions could see the fee reduced or dropped.
This statement comes in the wake of a funding crisis overwhelming many of Scotland’s universities, with the University of Edinburgh looking to make £140m of cuts over the next 18 months – a tenth of its annual spending – and Dundee University planning to make 632 full-time employees redundant.
Chris Deerin, Director of Reform Scotland, said: “Politicians – government and opposition – need to come together and accept some fundamental truths. Their inaction will inevitably result in more jobs, courses and even possibly institutions going under.”
“We have a small window to protect our universities and preserve the right of our children to attend them without paying up front. History will judge our politicians poorly if they are too afraid to lift their heads from the sand.”
Reform Scotland is a non-partisan think tank based in Edinburgh which looks at public sector reform.
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