Today a large crowd of students came together with the Highlands & Island Students’ Association and political and Trade Union support to challenge the proposed cuts that UHI Shetland face.
As Your Students Association President, I have heard many stories about how important UHI Shetland is to students and to the local community, and that is why I made the journey up to Shetland to be amongst Shetland students fighting for their education and services at UHI Shetland.
It saddens me to see potential cuts to the essential tertiary education services that UHI Shetland provides and as we know this will have a profound effect on the opportunities provided to Shetlanders and the wider student body. The potential cuts will have a major effect to the Access and Art courses alongside students with assistance support needs who rely on these courses for vital life skills. If the proposed cuts do go ahead, it will have a wider effect on the local economy and for that reason, I turn to the cause of this not the symptoms.
The current model of funding that Universities and Colleges face in Scotland puts a massive strain on potential services that can be provided in Island and Rural populations. The Students’ Association along with UHI Shetland students have had support from Highlands and Islands MSPs cross party including Edward Mountain who is “concerned for the funding of tertiary education and that the real issue is the lack of funding from the government.” Arianne Burgess also sent a letter of support to students via Prof Jane Lewis, UHI Shetland Principal highlighting the concern of “cutting vital education to those who otherwise would not have provisions.” We thank them both for their support and both have echoed they will lobby on this issue in Parliament.
My plea as President of the Highlands & Islands Students’ Assocation is to the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government to improve funding for tertiary education across the Highlands and Islands, but specifically the Islands where UHI is often the only provider to choose from and to ensure that Island communities like UHI Shetland can remain sustainable and thrive for years to come.
The work that local students have put in to have their voices heard from making banners, to engaging with us as their Students’ Association and attending the two Shetland student meetings to have their voices heard about the potential cuts is fantastic.
Sara Fox, Student Association Development Manager for Shetland, and Orkney highlighted:
“Seeing all the students, from construction to art, come out and stand together in solidarity was fantastic to see. A huge thanks to our art students for making such impactful signs and helping to spread the word across campus.”
When students come together for a cause that is so important to them, it shows just how important the student voice is. Especially in today’s climate of cuts and financial instability, it is not just important that students have their voices heard, but also essential!
The protest itself was a clear display of the feeling on the proposed cuts and how more is needed to be done to support Island communities. College cuts kills communities.
If work is not done to support UHI Shetland and their students, then the community will feel disenfranchised, and a local economy will be greatly affected.
William Campbell – Highlands and Islands Students’ Association President 23/24