STUDENT and university leaders in Scotland have urged the Scottish Government to follow the Welsh approach to supporting higher education learners and institutions through the coronavirus crisis.

Wales yesterday announced a £40 million package to help students facing financial hardship and committed to a 13.5% increase in university funding in its draft budget, published just before Christmas.

The Scottish Government will publish its budget next week and Universities Scotland is seeking an additional £205.9m investment into core budgets for universities in the coming financial year.

It said a further £64m would support new skills and innovation activities to catalyse Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.

Alastair Sim, Universities Scotland director, said: “Today’s announcement from the Welsh Government is further demonstration that they understand the impact that the pandemic is having on the higher education sector: there is an immediate need to support students as well as a longer-term commitment to the sustainability of universities themselves.

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“Next week’s Scottish Government budget should prioritise investment in higher education as the Welsh Government did in December.

“Welsh universities are now in a better place to assist their economy in recovering from the pandemic.

“With erosion of funding over the past five years in addition to the impact of the pandemic and Brexit, it is vital that our universities are supported in next week’s budget to give students and the wider economy the world class higher education sector that Scotland needs.”

Welsh universities will receive £40m prioritising vulnerable students to help with digital exclusion, expenses such as accommodation costs and strengthening of student advice and support services.

Matt Crilly, president of NUS Scotland, added: “While improvements to cost-of-living support introduced by the Scottish Government are welcome, they do not go far enough and need to be built on – now more than ever due to the economic devastation caused by covid-19 which threatens to push learners in Scotland into significant financial hardship.

“Students are being expected to pay rent for accommodation they can’t use, while some are relying on food banks and increased debt just to make ends meet.”