Universities Scotland this afternoon (Thursday 20 September) welcomed the draft budget announcement by Finance Secretary Swinney, which sees a planned investment of £1,041.6 million for universities in financial year (FY) 2013/14.
Responding to the budget, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said:
“We warmly welcome today’s budget as outlined by the Finance Secretary, which reaffirms the value that the Scottish Government attaches to our university sector. Today’s budget keeps to the planned spend on universities for financial year 2013/14, as first set out in 2011’s three-year spending plans. This investment is vital to universities’ competitiveness and keeps us on target towards what was always a three-year commitment on the part of Government to preventing a funding gap from opening up between universities in Scotland and England.
“Universities are committed to demonstrating a clear return on this investment. Every institution is working to finalise a series of outcome agreements with the Scottish Funding Council which will cover widening access, retention and working closely with business. Scotland will see a real social and economic impact as a result of this investment in universities.
“We are also pleased to see the additional investment of £17 million earmarked for the college sector next year. Colleges are an important part of Scotland’s post-16 educational landscape and a lot of close partnership working takes place between universities and colleges.”
Notes
- Table 5.06 in today’s draft budget document outlines £1,041.6 million for the Scottish Funding Council’s HE programme in GY 2013/14.
- The same table shows an investment of £511.7 million for the SFC’s FE programme; a £17 million increase on last year’s planned spend.
- You can find the Scottish Government’s draft budget document here: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/09/7829/7