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Extra cash for universities and colleges
09/03/2008
Colleges and universities in Scotland are to benefit from an additional investment of £20 million, it was announced today.
The package includes:
- £10 million for universities to assist them meet current pressures
- £10m for colleges to allow further strategic investment in key priority areas
Education and Lifelong Learning Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:
"Colleges and universities are at the heart of our drive to build a smarter, more prosperous Scotland.
"That's why, even though we are working within an extremely tight financial settlement, I am pleased to be able to announce a package of measures to support our higher and further education sectors.
"For Scotland's colleges, this will provide additional funding for priorities such as supporting young people who need more choices and more chances; articulation; and innovative approaches to learning delivery.
"We also understand the difficulties higher education institutions face in the final year of the current pay deal. That's why we said that we would make universities a priority for additional funding through in-year flexibility. To assist them, we freed up £10 million at the end of January.
"This Government is now able to go further and follow through on its public commitment to the sector with an additional investment of £10 million. This comes hard on the heels of an extra capital investment of £50m announced just a few months ago. This means that universities have benefitted to the tune of £70m since the Spending Review was published - that's a good deal for them by any measure.
"Colleges and universities remain a priority for the Government in terms of additional funding which may become available in the future years of the Spending review."
Sir Muir Russell, Convener of Universities Scotland, said:
"This goes a very long way to addressing the cost pressures the university sector will face in 2008-09. It is also an encouraging signal of intent from the Scottish Government. This sets a very positive context for discussions in the Universities Taskforce."
In a joint statement Howard McKenzie, Acting Chief Executive of the Association of Scottish Colleges (ASC) and Sue Pinder, Convener of the Principals' Forum, said:
"We are delighted to see a further £10 million coming into our sector which is working hard to improve learning and skills in Scotland. We take this as a further demonstration of the Scottish Government's support for Scotland's colleges. This additional investment is most welcome."