An MSP said north-east universities must be spared cuts after the Scottish Government warned of “challenging” settlements.
Labour’s Lewis Macdonald seized on comments by the higher education minister to renew calls for no repeat of recent funding reductions.
Academic institutions faced “an uncertain few weeks” until next year’s allocations were announced, he said, with Aberdeen and Robert Gordon universities already forced to make teaching staff cuts.
Mr Macdonald said: “Shirley-Anne Somerville told parliament today that next year’s funding settlement will be a ‘challenging’ one for some universities, at what are ‘challenging times for the north-east’.
“These words will be heard with great concern by universities in Aberdeen, as she appears to acknowledge the challenge to come but gives no undertaking about protecting universities despite the wider economic issues.
“It would simply not be acceptable for North East universities to bear the brunt of funding cuts two years in a row. I will continue to press SNP Ministers for a commitment that Aberdeen and Robert Gordon universities will have the funding they need to support staff and students going forward.”
MSP: North-east universities must be spared cuts in “challenging” funding settlement
