Nicola Sturgeon’s economy guru has said he would back a debate on the introduction of university tuition fees.
Benny Higgins said there is “bound” to be a discussion on whether students should contribute to their higher education.
The Scottish Government’s Economic Recovery Group, chaired by Higgins, this week unveiled an "education led" report on how to get the country moving again.
One of the themes was the financial pressures facing universities, which are experiencing a huge fall in international students.
University coffers have benefited from overseas students and the report flagged up analysis showing the sector could face a £500million deficit.
It noted: “All 18 Scottish universities are likely to go into deficit; for several, cash levels could become critical towards the end of this financial year. Bridging support will be required to protect some institutions for the future.”
However, with domestic students not being liable for tuition fees, any bailout may have to come from public funds.
Asked by the Daily Record whether he would support a debate on tuition fees, Higgins said: “Yes. Listen, there are very few debates that I don’t support, as long it is not some kind of misguided principle.
“There is bound to be one and I am sure it will take place around the universities.”
Asked about the balance between public funds and private contributions in relation to a bailout, he said he sits on a finance committee at Glasgow University: “I sit through these conversations in some detail.”
He added: “This is going to be a long haul, in terms of just trying to make sure that we do protect the university sector.”
Higgins, whose career started at Standard Life, has held a range of senior posts in the banking world.
He was chief executive of retail banking at RBS and also CEO of Tesco Bank. He is currently executive chairman of Buccleuch.
Tuition charges were abolished in 2000 and a graduate endowment fee was scrapped in 2008.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“We remain committed to free higher education for Scots domiciled students and access to university being based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.
“We are working in partnership with universities and colleges to address the challenges caused by the pandemic.
"Ministers continue to ask the UK Government to recognise the full impact of the crisis on the higher education sector, and for HM Treasury to ensure appropriate fiscal support is made available to ensure the sector can remain at the forefront of global education and support wider recovery efforts.”
A spokesperson for Universities Scotland said: "Universities still face an unprecedented funding challenge in this financial year and next and we still need financial support to get them through in order that they can fulfil the systemically important role that Benny Higgins and his advisory group identified for universities as part of Scotland’s’ education-led recovery and renewal.
"In the context of that immediate pressure, the report’s call for support to stabilise and protect universities in the short term was very welcome.
"Our concern would be that a debate on alternatives to free higher education, right now, would distract from that very real need.
“Looking beyond immediate pressures, our priority is that higher education is funded at a level which supports accessibility, sustainability, excellence and maximum benefit to Scotland and that those objectives are secured long into the future.”
