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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Call for graduate payment rethink | Call for graduate payment rethink |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| A leading academic has called for a fresh look at the contribution graduates make towards the cost of higher education. | A leading academic has called for a fresh look at the contribution graduates make towards the cost of higher education. |
| Dr Andrew Cubie said the issue should be considered as part of an independent review of university funding. | Dr Andrew Cubie said the issue should be considered as part of an independent review of university funding. |
| Dr Cubie headed the inquiry in 1999 which led to the abolition of upfront tuition fees in Scotland. | Dr Cubie headed the inquiry in 1999 which led to the abolition of upfront tuition fees in Scotland. |
| He asked whether it was "socially just" for those who benefit most from higher education to receive it for free. | He asked whether it was "socially just" for those who benefit most from higher education to receive it for free. |
| But Dr Cubie, who chairs the court at Napier University in Edinburgh, stressed he was not calling for a graduate tax. | But Dr Cubie, who chairs the court at Napier University in Edinburgh, stressed he was not calling for a graduate tax. |
| I think we have to look again at the ways in which that contribution might be made Dr Andrew Cubie | I think we have to look again at the ways in which that contribution might be made Dr Andrew Cubie |
| His intervention came as university principals prepared to hold talks with the education secretary on the Scottish budget, which they said would leave them short of cash. | His intervention came as university principals prepared to hold talks with the education secretary on the Scottish budget, which they said would leave them short of cash. |
| Dr Cubie told BBC Scotland: "In a society which is still not able to allow those who are in primary and secondary education to reach their full potential, is it socially acceptable that those who have the advantage of getting tertiary education, with all the ensuing benefits, for free? | Dr Cubie told BBC Scotland: "In a society which is still not able to allow those who are in primary and secondary education to reach their full potential, is it socially acceptable that those who have the advantage of getting tertiary education, with all the ensuing benefits, for free? |
| "I think if you look around the world there are many countries which seek a contribution from graduates in one way or another. | "I think if you look around the world there are many countries which seek a contribution from graduates in one way or another. |
| "After all, the graduate endowment anticipated, and did indeed, bring about a contribution from graduates for a particular purpose - to assist later students out of disadvantage. | "After all, the graduate endowment anticipated, and did indeed, bring about a contribution from graduates for a particular purpose - to assist later students out of disadvantage. |
| "The principle, if you like, was accepted at that stage of a graduate contribution. I think we have to look again at the ways in which that contribution might be made." | "The principle, if you like, was accepted at that stage of a graduate contribution. I think we have to look again at the ways in which that contribution might be made." |
| Hardship grants | Hardship grants |
| Dr Cubie's report into education formed a major part of higher education policy in the first Scottish Executive. | Dr Cubie's report into education formed a major part of higher education policy in the first Scottish Executive. |
| It recommended that students repay £3,000 after graduation but only when they were earning £25,000. | It recommended that students repay £3,000 after graduation but only when they were earning £25,000. |
| In 2001, the Labour-Liberal Democrats coalition scrapped upfront tuition fees and said graduates would contribute £2,000 to a fund for new hardship grants, starting repayments when they earned £10,000 or more. | In 2001, the Labour-Liberal Democrats coalition scrapped upfront tuition fees and said graduates would contribute £2,000 to a fund for new hardship grants, starting repayments when they earned £10,000 or more. |