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Students Leap To Defence of Dundee University
A motion in the Scottish Parliament by a Labour MSP which, while praising the increased rankings of many Scottish Universities, managed to attack the credibility and standing of Dundee University by noting its drop in the rankings out of the top 200 world universities has today been slammed by Dundee students as unnecessarily negative.
Gregor Murray, Convenor of Dundee Student Nationalist group said: "To describe Dundee University only as an institution which is falling down the rankings in the very week that it was shortlisted as the only Scottish institution for the Times Higher Education Award of "University of the Year" is inept to say the least!
"Dundee University's Politics Department came top in the UK for Student Satisfaction in the National Student Survey this year and was rated top University by the Guardian for 'Impact of our Research' in June and has consistently been ranked in the top five of the world by US magazine 'The Scientist' as one of the world's most attractive places for scientists.
"Politicians - from outside Dundee - attempting to attack Dundee University's world-beating record of achievement, are wide of the mark and it is highly disappointing that a Dundee-based MSP, Marlyn Glen, supported the motion by Labour MSP Claire Baker which denigrates the high standing of Dundee University.
Joe FitzPatrick, SNP MSP for Dundee West, in whose constituency Dundee University is, has tabled an amendment to the motion at the Scottish Parliament drawing attention to several of the University’s recent accolades and Scotland’s reputation as a country with ‘a world-class education system’.
Student tax exemption proposal welcomed in Dundee
Students in Dundee have welcomed the Scottish Government’s proposal to exempt full-time students from paying for Local Income Tax.
John Swinney yesterday announced that the Scottish Government is actively considering representations on the proposal.
MSP for Dundee West Joe FitzPatrick said; "I welcome this announcement and hope the Government is able to offer support to students when council tax is finally scrapped and replaced with a fair system of local income tax."
Gregor Murray, Convenor of Dundee Student Nationalist Association, said: “This news will be welcomed by students and student organisations across the country.
"Replacing Council Tax with a tax based on the ability to pay will make local taxation fairer for everyone. Although some students will not pay Local Income Tax, because they do not work, 67% of students in Scotland work to fund their studies or living costs while at College or University.
"According to the first annual Halifax Student Finances Survey, students in Scotland earn an average of £6198. When Gordon Brown and the Labour party doubled the tax on students by abolishing the 10p tax rate, they pushed tax bills for the average working student up from just under £100 to nearly £200 – a price most working students can ill afford.
"In contrast, the SNP Government is looking at the possibility of exempting those students from local taxation in Scotland, having already scrapped the graduate endowment fee. The difference in the attitude of Governments north and south of the border will not be lost on students in Scotland.”
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