The Scottish Government have performed a U-turn and finally admitted that a section in the Higher Education Bill on ministerial powers over universities may be taken out.
Previously, the Scottish Conservatives had called for this part of the bill to be deleted because it risks undermining the future success of Scotland’s universities.
And if the move goes through, it has been warned universities could be reclassified under Office for National Statistics guidelines, jeopardising millions of pounds of investment.
Now the SNP have backtracked and education secretary Angela Constance admitted today at the education committee that they are considering removing this section of the bill altogether.
All of Scotland’s world class institutions – including St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow – have previously criticised section 8 of the bill, which would see universities lose autonomy and the Scottish Government take on more control over a range of matters.
The Scottish Conservatives have warned before that it made little sense for the SNP to meddle in university affairs when other areas of Scottish education are performing so badly.
Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said:
"Finally, we have an admission from the Scottish Government that there is a serious problem at the heart of this bill which would do untold damage to our university sector.
“Since the bill was published, all stakeholders in the sector - academics, staff, students, unions and chairs of court - have raised very serious concerns about the sections of the bill which would increase ministerial power and give wider scope for the universities to be redefined as public sector bodies, something that could cost the sector £1 billion.
“The education minister and her officials have been under intense pressure and I hope Angela Constance will now keep her promise to ensure that any section of the bill which threatens to increase ministerial power and re-classify universities will be removed.
“The whole future of the sector depends on this."