07 May 2004
Plans to merge the two Scottish quangos responsible for further and higher education have been announced by Lifelong Learning Minister Jim Wallace.
His proposals, involving the amalgamation of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, were immediately criticised by university principals. They argued that there was a danger that the distinctive characteristics of universities would be eroded.
The consultation paper proposes a new category of tertiary education providers eligible for funding through the new body. They will be known as Specified Tertiary Education Providers. Universities and colleges will be brought together to provide a single upper education funding sector.
Universities Scotland voiced 'grave concern'. Its convener, Bill Stevely, warned that the proposals could prove damaging and the good work done by the Scottish Executive in higher education would be undone if they went ahead.
Wallace denied suggestions that the proposals would result in the merger of universities and colleges. 'The identity and legal status of our world-class universities and colleges will not change,' he said. 'The new body will provide a more integrated view of the use of the public funds invested in lifelong learning while guaranteeing the maximum autonomy of individual institutions.'
Student bodies welcomed the proposals, designed to give the FE sector greater status and encourage people from poorer backgrounds to progress from a college qualification to university. The National Union of Students said a student taking a course in college should be treated in the same way as someone taking the same course in a university.
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