A case for shorter degrees

Sir, – Shirley-anne Somerville, Scotland’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, really should take a look at her English opposite number Jo Johnson’s proposals for shorter university degrees.

Under Mr Johnson’s proposal, English universities would cut their long summer vacations, so allowing them to provide as many week’s teaching in two years as they currently provide over three.

This idea is not untested, as the University of Buckingham, Britain’s oldest private university, has been successfully using this model for over 40 years.

In Scotland, where many first degrees are at the moment four years, moving to round-theyear teaching would cut these courses to three years. Shorter degrees would provide financial savings both to the students and to the public purse.

Of course, universities would have to adjust their business model, as they would not be able to rent out student rooms during the long summer vacation.

Shorter degrees would also improve access.

Courses would be more attractive to mature students, who find taking three years out of full-time employment a daunting disincentive.

Shorter courses might also improve working class participation.

If we are to make the best of devolution, we must realise that Scotland won’t always lead, as we did with the Smoking Ban, but sometimes should follow innovations in other parts of the UK.

Otto Inglis. 6 Inveralmond Grove, Edinburgh.