Scottish Higher Education must maximise its role in the country’s future success, use its current resources more effectively and ensure it remains nationally and internationally competitive, Education Secretary Michael Russell said today. 

The Green Paper ‘Building a Smarter Future’ sets out a range of options for the future of Scotland’s universities, including funding solutions which maintain the tradition of the state being the primary provider by maximising income to higher education. 

 Tuition fees for Scottish students remain off the table and other solutions are being brought forward for discussion. A short life technical working group involving Universities Scotland will report to a reconvened cross party summit in February on any possible funding gap which may open up and on the potential to close it through the six sources of income identified in the Green Paper.  

Presenting the Paper to Parliament, Mr Russell said: 

“The challenges facing higher education are clear. The solutions, however, are complex, further complicated by the fact that Scotland does not have full power of its own finances and the £1.3 billion cut to next year’s budget. ”  

“This is why we have encouraged bold and innovative thinking to find a unique solution, encompassing a range of measures to deliver sustainable higher education in Scotland. “  

“This is not a simple issue with a quick and easy solution. There is no ‘silver bullet’, this is why the Green Paper, following wide ranging discussions, is the right and proper way to find the solution and be ready for legislation in the second half of 2011.” 

To find out more read the ‘Building a Smarter Future’ Green Paper (web version) and find out statistics on student numbers in scotland.