Last of the Westland Whigs

In the late 17th century, the 'Westland Whigs' were the radical descendants of earlier Covenanters who had defied the absolutist rule of Stuart kings in south west Scotland.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

The Director Speaks...

Director's plea for campus future

The director of Glasgow University's Crichton campus in Dumfries is urging people to support calls for the retention of the facility.
Professor Ted Cowan said he spoke for all his staff in calling for the university's presence in the town to be saved in the face of a funding crisis.
He has compiled a detailed defence stressing its educational and economic importance to Dumfries and Galloway.
The university has said it could quit the campus due to heavy annual losses.
It has appealed for extra funding as the Crichton operation is reported to be losing £800,000 a year.
Unless the Scottish Funding Council comes up with more cash, the university has said it could start a phased withdrawal from Dumfries.
Prof Cowan has written to a range of groups across Dumfries and Galloway urging them to protest to the university principal and the funding council.

Economic contribution
He said the university had 49 staff, contributing £2.5m to the local economy.
He added that it had helped to stem rural depopulation by retaining young people who previously would have moved away.
Paisley University and Bell College share the Crichton campus with Glasgow, but Prof Cowan said they were complementary establishments.
He argued they would not be able to match the range and excellence of the University of Glasgow's core courses, nor the exceptional academic qualifications of its staff.
The SFC is due to meet with Glasgow University later this week to discuss the funding situation.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/6292011.stm

Published: 2007/01/24 09:55:25 GMT

© BBC MMVII

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home