A new report by the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland has described a “serious crisis” in the nation’s higher and further education system, driven in part by the marketisation of universities.
The report – the first in a series – points to issues across key pillars of the education system: funding, student finance, housing, transport, and mental health.
In its forward, NUS Scotland’s President, Ellie Gomersall, said:
“Students still don’t have enough money in their pockets, leaving large numbers stuck in a cycle of poverty.
“The student housing crisis continues to deepen, the cost of public transport is still unaffordable, and all of this has a growing impact on our mental health.”
NUS Scotland argues that the increased marketisation of the sector under the 2010 coalition government has led to students – particularly those from abroad – being treated as consumers.
It also criticises the Scottish government’s “continued underfunding” of the sector for perpetuating marketisation.
In December 2023, the Scottish Government’s 2024/25 draft budget proposed a £48.5 million cut to funding for Scottish students.
According to the report, university principals’ “overinflated” salaries are a result of this marketisation.
It notes that the University of Edinburgh’s principal earns about 2.5 times more than Scotland’s First Minister.
The report also raises concerns about the economic challenges faced by students.
A previous NUS Scotland report found that 60% of students had to work alongside their studies, and 12% of students experienced homelessness during their studies.
NUS Scotland partially attributes this to high rents and the dominance of “profit-maximising” private student accommodation over university-provided accommodation.
While there is currently a temporary Scottish cap on rent increases until 31 March, the report said that:
“As students tend to move between accommodation more frequently than other groups, they are among the most impacted.”
The Edinburgh University Student Association (EUSA) is a member of NUS. Responding to the report, EUSA’s President, Sharan Atwal, told The Student that:
“The report comes as little surprise to us and reaffirms what we see and hear from students on a regular basis.
“Student experience needs to be prioritised, by the university and the Government.
“Students are in crises and this report strengthens what we already knew and will continue to lobby for, that student wellbeing needs to be taken care of, including increased financial support, housing support and mental health support.”
Image via Rayna Carruthers