This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Open University to Strengthen Scottish Links
09/04/1999
Scottish Education Minister Helen Liddell today announced that from 2000/01 the funding for Open University (OU) students living in Scotland will be transferred from the Higher Education Funding Council of England to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
The transfer of funding was agreed on following a review set up at the end of last year by the Scottish Office and the Department for Education and Employment. The results of the consultation from the joint review indicated wide support for the transfer.
Mrs Liddell said:
"As the biggest single provider of part time higher education in Scotland, it is important that the Open University continues to play its part in helping to deliver education priorities for Scotland.
"By transferring the funding for Scottish students to SHEFC, this will allow greater integration of the OU with the HE sector in Scotland and ensure appropriate accountability to the Scottish Parliament. OU students in Scotland will see no change in the delivery of its services and the OU will continue to deliver services to students in ways that best suit their needs."
BACKGROUND
The Open University will continue as a UK wide operation with its Head Quarters and corporate base in Walton Hall, Milton Keynes.
News Release: 0943/99
9 April, 1999