BRIAN Wilson has every right to air his Unionist views, which he does frequently and strenuously. What he has much less right to do, as Scottish Education Minister, it seems to me, is to cast doubt on the value of Scottish four-year degrees as you report him doing at Westminster (May 21). Especially as he will soon be heading down there.
How many Scottish university teachers did he consult before making this off-the-cuff pronouncement? Where has he acquired the depth of knowledge that would allow him to make with confidence this damaging statement which he knew would be broadcast in the media?
The present three-year pick-'n'-mix general degree plus a year in industry, as he suggests, would simply ''dumb down'' Scottish university education, reducing it to preparing students for the labour force in industry and commerce.
His suggestion could only be justified if it involved a complete recasting of the general degree, making of it once again a systematic, integrated, general view of knowledge and thought, with a strong philosophical element, giving students a clear picture of the world, their place in it, their rights and responsibilities, and the ability to analyse and ask questions of authority and society: an education, in other words, which would fit them to take their place as informed citizens in the new democratic Scotland we are about to create.
My blushes are brief at appointing Tony Slattery Rector of St Andrews rather than Dundee University. I must have unconsciously assumed that only St Andrews would do that. Carol Pope (Letters, May 20) simply confirms my argument in spades. Despite her PR blurb Dundee University is clearly very heavily anglicised too.
Andrew Lockhart Walker,
7 Lovers' Loan, Dollar.
May 22.
IT was with interest that I read Andrew Lockhart Walker's historical report on the position of Lord Rector, and it pleased me to see someone with an intimate knowledge of the foundations of the rectorship (May 19).
However, his grasp of the modern day is not quite so precise. It was in 1967 that Queen's College, Dundee, became independent from the University of St Andrews, and was accorded its own university status. Dundee maintained the tradition of Rector and for the last 30 years has elected its own Rector, the current incumbent being Tony Slattery.
So, what of the so-called ''completely anglicised'' St Andrews? Our Rector, first elected in 1993, and re-elected in 1996, is Donald Findlay, QC - noted in St Andrews for his commitment to the post and his legal mind, a strong asset for the students in the University Court. Donald is a Fifer and, for the record, the Principal hails from Larkhall, and I, as Students' Association President, came to St Andrews from Paisley.
The notion that St Andrews is anglicised is completely incorrect. The university receives applications from Scotland, the rest of the UK, and beyond because of its situation, reputation, and tradition for giving its students a quality education.
Paul Corrigan,
President, University of St Andrews
Students' Association,
St Mary's Place, St Andrews.
May 25.
EVER since 1298 when William Wallace, acting as Guardian of Scotland, granted part of West Field to Alexander Scrymgeour for his part played in the struggle for Scottish independence, the University of Dundee has been steeped in its Scottish identity. (The land was the future site of the university.)
While I agree with most of what Andrew Lockhart Walker said with regard to higher education funding and the educational issues surrounding this (Letters, May 19) a few facts need to be looked at.
Tony Slattery, for example, is Rector of the University of Dundee, an institution that has been independent from the University of St Andrews since August 1, 1967. Either he feels that we are still part of St. Andrews, or he feels that we are also ''anglicised''.
To set the record straight, the University of Dundee is very much a Scottish university, but it also benefits greatly from the influx of English, Irish, and other non-Scottish students and staff. The impression that I get from Mr. Walker's ill-informed letter is that instead of having non-Scottish people at this Scottish institution, we should close doors and try to do it all ourselves.
If this turned out to be the case, there would be a great loss of culture, on which a university should thrive, and a problem of parochialism would ensue which would not benefit anyone.
His implication that Mr Slattery's election was a joke is also extremely unfair. The fact is that Mr Slattery stood in an election for this honourable position, and was not automatically installed. He stood against a Scotsman, but the electorate obviously had more foresight than Mr Walker, having not elected a Scotsman as Rector just because they were students at a Scottish university.
Mr. Slattery is already making a very valid contribution to the university by taking the position as Rector extremely seriously, very becoming of this ancient tradition. I have no doubt that he will continue to do so throughout his three years, and will leave feeling very ''Scottish'' and not vice versa.
Mark Burns,
President,
Dundee University Students'
Association,
Airlie Place, Dundee.
May 25.
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