Pledge of £75 million to bail out Scots universities – but more cash is urged
Universities are to receive a one-off funding boost totalling £75 million to help them cope in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Education secretary John Swinney acknowledged “world-renowned university research activities are under threat from Covid-19”, as the Scottish Government funding was pledged.
But he insisted the UK government also needed to step up and fund universities north of the Border.
Mr Swinney, also the Deputy First Minister, said the “main interventions” from Westminster so far “have been focused on the higher education sector south of the Border”.
He said: “We need the UK government to take a UK approach and join with Scottish universities and the Scottish Government to build a support package that will protect the sector from the impact of this virus.”
The Scottish Government funding comes after St Andrews University said it faces a “hole in our financial position” of at least £25m as a result of the outbreak, with principal Sally Mapstone saying the situation was “as serious a financial crisis as our university has faced in modern times”.
Scottish Funding Council analysis has indicated Scottish universities could suffer a loss of around £72m due to Covid-19 this academic year alone, with a collective operating deficit of between £384m and £651m forecast for the next year.
Holyrood’s higher education minister Richard Lochhead has now written to Michelle Donelan, his UK counterpart, calling for additional cash.
Explaining why the Scottish Government had acted, Mr Swinney said: “Our worldrenowned university research activities are under threat from Covid-19, from a loss of university income to the risk to jobs and investment.
“That research is critical to Scotland’s future public health and prosperity.
“So we are investing now to protect our research sector’s excellence, with £75m of additional funding, as we plan together for the future sustainability of Scotland’s society and economy as a whole.
“We are taking a partnership approach, talking to the universities and staff unions, as we build up our response. For the universities’ part, they are stepping up with a willingness to use part of this investment to support PHD students whose studies have been impacted by Covid-19.”
In an email sent to staff on Tuesday, University of Edinburgh principal Peter Mathieson had warned the institution would need to undergo an aggressive cost-cutting programme simply to survive.