The SNP are intent on pressing ahead with damaging university reforms by refusing to support amendments to improve the Higher Education Governance Bill, according to local Conservative Jamie Greene.
Institutions including St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow – have previously criticised the bill, which would see universities lose autonomy and the Scottish Government take on more control over a range of matters.
Last week at the Education and Culture Committee in Holyrood, Angela Constance rejected amendments which would make the bill more acceptable to the higher education sector. This included a refusal to exempt small specialist institutions such as the Royal Conservatoire and the Glasgow School of Art from the plans.
Jamie Greene said “The bill is deeply unpopular with the sector, and only in the past week high profile individuals such as Edinburgh principal professor Tim O'Shea and the 18 chairs of university courts have spoken about their opposition to the plans. The Scottish Conservatives are calling on the SNP government to improve their approach to this bill at stage 3 and work with the sector and opposition parties to put forward amendments that will make it more acceptable to the institutions that are expected to deliver these changes. “
He added “Instead of respecting the autonomy and diversity of the sector ministers want to impose a one size fits all structure so they can keep tighter control of what goes on in our universities. This point has been made to the Scottish Government time after time yet ministers will not listen.”