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Helen Liddell announces funding boost for higher education
30/10/1998
A £15 million boost for Scotland's knowledge economy was announced today by Scottish Education Minister Helen Liddell.
Addressing the annual forum of COSHEP (Committee of Scottish Higher Education Principals) at Napier University, Mrs Liddell announced:
· £15 million additional funding for higher education;
· a review of how the Open University in Scotland is funded;
· a review of taught postgraduate student support.
Mrs Liddell said:
"Knowledge and know-how are overtaking buildings and machinery as the key assets of business. Success goes to those who innovate and they do so through the rapid acquisition and application of knowledge.
"Education is central to a knowledge economy and that is why today I am announcing a further funding boost of £15 million to Scotland's Higher Education sector.
"I want this additional funding to produce concrete outcomes in terms of meeting the Government's objectives of widening access and modernising teaching and research to support a knowledge economy.
"I am also announcing today the setting up of two reviews.
"Increasing world competition and the need for innovation means that we must ensure our most able graduates progress into research careers. To maximise the effectiveness of The Scottish Office funding to support taught postgraduate students, I am setting up a review to make sure the sum we spend meets our priorities of widening access and developing a knowledge economy.
"The Open University is the world leader in distance learning. Despite being a UK-wide institution the O.U. has always been funded from England. I am pleased to announce today that we shall be considering future funding through SHEFC (Scottish Higher Education Funding Council) which will provide a greater Scottish perspective for Scottish students as we enter a new millennium with a new Scottish Parliament."
BACKGROUND
1. Scotland is a net importer of students from elsewhere in the UK. The abolition of banded tuition fees and their replacement by the flat rate tuition fee of up to £1,000 per year means that funding of £5m will transfer from the Department for Education and Employment to The Scottish Office in each of the years 1999/2000; 2000/01 and 2001/2002.
2. £230 million for Scottish Higher Education was announced in July as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review.
3. Mr Stewart Miller has been appointed to conduct the review of taught postgraduate student support provided by The Scottish Office. Mr Miller is a former Director of Engineering and Board Member of Rolls Royce. He is currently Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Loughborough University, a Member of the Court of the University of Strathclyde and a member of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). It is expected that the Postgraduate Review Committee will hold its first meeting in January 1999, and will report to Ministers in July or August 1999.
News Release: 2228/98
30 October, 1998