Current Petitions

The second current petition is PE1395, by Jan Culík, on targeted funding for lesser-taught languages and cultures at universities. Members have a note by the clerk and the submissions.Members will know that the petition has been effective. We have raised it on a number of occasions—most recently with the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council.There is an interesting point in relation to the responses from the Scottish funding council and the petitioner. It is probably a truism that students cannot apply for courses that are not on offer. In general, how can universities assess and tap into demand, when there is no mechanism for doing that? We have considered the petition a number of times, but the Scottish funding council suggests that we write—perhaps finally—to the University of Glasgow to try to get an answer to that interesting question. We all know that there are difficulties with resources, but it is important to get to the bottom of the issue.Members indicated agreement.

We will write to the University of Glasgow to try to determine the answer to the question that I asked. The petition is important. As members know, we have had a good turnout from petitioners and students to raise awareness of the issue.

I do not want to extend the argument too much—

I will make a personal point. When I was in Taiwan recently, I spoke to university students. Students from Taiwan want to study in the United Kingdom, but Scotland is not getting its fair share of students. There is demand, but how do universities sell their product—their courses—effectively in the UK and abroad?Adam Ingram has experience of the subject from his involvement in the past.

It can cover the wider issue—that is a good point. Do members agree to what has been proposed?Members indicated agreement.

We will write to the University of Glasgow and Universities Scotland.