Dear Graeme Dey MSP,

We write to you in desperation, but also in defiance. We are students, staff, and trade unions standing together as Scotland’s higher and further education sectors teeter on the edge of collapse. The crisis unfolding before us is not just a crisis of funding—it is a crisis of political failure, of broken systems, and of wilful negligence from those in power.

For too long, our institutions have been forced to rely on precarious international student fees, propping up a fundamentally broken funding model. The UK Government’s hostile rhetoric and policies have made it abundantly clear that international students are no longer welcome—yet their fees have been used to keep our institutions afloat. Now, with growing restrictions and uncertainty, the entire sector has begun to crumble.

The reality is bleak:

• Hundreds of staff have already lost their jobs, with many more still at risk. The livelihoods of dedicated educators, researchers, and support workers are being sacrificed as institutions scramble to stay solvent.
• Students are paying the price, with learning conditions deteriorating and support services being slashed. The student experience has already been deeply damaged, and things are only going to get worse.
• The Scottish Government’s recent intervention of £22 million is a mere sticking plaster over a gaping wound. It is not a solution—it is an admission of years of financial mismanagement and underinvestment in education.
• The current crisis is just the tip of the iceberg. Without immediate, structural change, we are hurtling towards an education system that is unsustainable, unjust, and unable to fulfil its role as a pillar of social progress and economic prosperity.

This is not just about numbers on a balance sheet—it is about people’s futures, their jobs, their education, and their lives. It is about Scotland’s ability to be a world leader in education. It is about whether we believe in an accessible, high-quality, well-funded education system—or whether we are content to let it collapse in front of us.

A Defining Moment: The Higher and Further Education Bill

The forthcoming Higher and Further Education Bill presents a critical opportunity to reshape the future of post-16 education in Scotland. If the Scottish Government is serious about protecting our world-class education system, then this legislation must deliver real solutions—not just surface-level reforms. This means embedding a sustainable public funding model, ensuring secure jobs and fair pay for staff, and committing to education as a right, not a privilege. The sector cannot afford another missed opportunity. We demand to be at the heart of shaping this Bill to guarantee it brings the transformative change we need.

We Demand Action Now

We demand urgent action. The UK and Scottish Governments must work together to fix this crisis. This means:

• A long-term, sustainable funding model that does not rely on exploitative fee structures.
• An end to the hostile environment that undermines our international students and staff.
• A real commitment to education as a public good, not a financial burden.

We are calling on our colleagues, our trade unions, and all those who care about education to stand with us. We refuse to let our universities and colleges be decimated by inaction and political neglect.

Education is the backbone of our society. Without it, we all suffer. The time for political platitudes is over—now is the time for action.

We demand better. Scotland deserves better.

Sincerely,

Sai Shraddha S. Viswanathan, NUS Scotland President