It’s a real worry to see Scotland’s universities in crisis. They help shape the career direction so many of our population take.
Dundee University is set to cut 632 jobs. Aberdeen University has already cut staff. There’s talk of the same happening at both Glasgow University and Robert Gordon University. And a ballot among University of Edinburgh staff has indicated that three quarters of staff are willing to strike to prevent cuts as the university seeks to plug a £140 million gap.
What’s more, it is thought that that more than half of Scotland’s institutions are running a deficit.
These are some of our most respected institutions, which not only nurture young minds, but also place Scotland at the forefront of key research breakthroughs.
How can they continue to fulfil this vital role if they are having to drastically reduce their workforce?
It sounds to me that Scotland’s funded higher education has played a key role in the situation our universities have found themselves in.
It is a real benefit of our country to have access to free higher education and it has no doubt helped to level access, resulting in some real talent embarking on their careers after graduating.
I studied business law at the University of Strathclyde so know firsthand the value of higher education and how it can be an important first step on your career path. Even today, I continue to be a strong supporter of the university and have worked with them and their business students over the years.
But I can’t help but feel free higher education has ultimately come at a high cost. The funding the Scottish Government provides has not increased with inflation or the increasing number of students accessing higher education. Universities Scotland, which represents our 18 institutions says that there has been a decade of under-investment.
This of course isn’t their only income stream. Universities work hard to recruit students both from the rest of the UK, where fees are not funded, bringing in £2,500 per student more than Scottish students, and from oversees, where students are charged significantly more.
This comes with its own pitfalls, as it’s highly competitive and not guaranteed. Factors such as Britain leaving the EU and the pandemic both affected the number of students choosing to attend university here, so the universities with bigger marketing budgets and reputations have their pick of the crop.
And it also raises the question of whether recruiting oversees students now takes precedence over attracting our homegrown talent.
The number of Scots enrolling at universities in the country has steadily increased before shrinking slightly in 2022/23. My worry is that the severe cutbacks and the real prospect that the Scottish Government may at some point have to reassess funded higher education, may result in a decline in people attending universities.
And to be fair, it’s not the only route into the workplace, is it? Could our upcoming generations choose to shun our universities, stripped back to the bone and operating with minimal staff, for modern apprenticeships.
Often university education has been held up as the ideal pathway into employment. But while some thrive there, it’s not right for everyone or for every career.
A degree offers no guarantee of a job at the end of it, but with an apprenticeship, there’s the opportunity to get hands on experience and be paid for it.
What worries me more is that our younger generations will become so disillusioned they will opt out of the workplace altogether. Amongst the news on the terrible state many of our universities find themselves in, an article published last week by PwC suggested one in four Gen Z workers are considering leaving their job to go on benefits. What a detrimental impact that would have on our economy.
Whether pursuing a degree, modern apprenticeship, or even going straight into the workplace, I believe there is the right path for everyone, and they must be encouraged to take it.
If there’s one area there shouldn’t be cut back, it’s our education system responsible for guiding our next generation of employers and employees.
Side
Aberdeen has powered the UK for decades, and now it has been handed the responsibility of doing it again—this time, with clean energy. With GB Energy choosing the Granite City for its headquarters, the message is clear: Aberdeen is still the UK’s energy capital, just with a greener focus.
Last week, GB Energy Chairman Juergen Maier highlighted the skills and infrastructure that make the region perfect for the transition. The North East has built world-leading expertise in oil and gas, and that knowledge can be repurposed for renewables. But there are big questions that need answering.
A promise of 1,000 jobs is welcome, but when the timeline is 20 years, it is less of a transformation and more of a waiting game. And while we all agree that lowering household bills is a priority, the government has not yet explained exactly how GB Energy will deliver that.
For Aberdeen, this is a huge opportunity—but only if it is backed by real investment, real projects, and real jobs. The North East does not need another round of big announcements with little follow-through. It needs funding that gets workers into new roles now, not decades down the line.
If Labour is serious about making GB Energy a success, Aberdeen is the right place to start. But the city and its workforce deserve a firm plan, not just a long-term vision. The energy transition is happening. The question is whether Scotland will lead it or watch from the sidelines.
Laugh
Laurence Malyon has opened an aparthotel in just seven days. Most of us take longer to decide what to watch on Netflix.
The 28-year-old Glaswegian has gone from selling his last business to launching a hospitality brand set on European expansion. Edinburgh’s Moment George IV Bridge is already fully booked, and with plans for Manchester, London, Amsterdam, and Barcelona, he is clearly not one for small ambitions.
Scotland needs more of this. Young business leaders who spot an opportunity, move fast, and deliver. The hospitality sector has had its fair share of struggles, but stories like this prove there is still energy and appetite for growth. If Malyon keeps this pace up, he will have half of Europe checked in before most of us have checked out of bed.
Weep
Ferguson Marine missing out on CalMac’s new ferry contract is a real blow. The last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, with a history of building exactly this kind of vessel, has lost out to a Polish firm.
The yard has had its troubles, but this could have been a chance to turn things around with steady work, proven designs, and a real future. Instead, Scotland’s nationalised shipbuilder is left watching as £175m in ferry contracts sails away.
We need a thriving shipbuilding industry, not just for history’s sake but for jobs, skills, and economic growth. Ferguson’s should be winning contracts, not missing them. If we are serious about rebuilding our industrial strength, decisions like this should concern us all.
