A student stated that students should not be discouraged from postgraduate study because of the costs. There was a possibility students would choose a three-year degree as it is the cheapest option. A member of the audience supported the abolishment of all fees on the condition that students stay and work in Scotland for five years after their graduation and suggested that if they did not want to stay and work in Scotland they would have to pay on a graduating scale. A student replied that there was not enough work in Scotland. One parent expressed concerns that there was no stability in the system.
Governments come and go and no one system stays in place for long enough.
He questioned whether the government in the future was going to put a certain amount of gross domestic product into higher education and guarantee that it will stay so there will be some kind of security. A member of the committee replied that the present Government has made a three year commitment for its policy plan, unlike the last government. A member of the audience wondered whether the contribution rate from students could be worked out depending on how much their education was going to be worth to society. He talked about a global figure and added that all students should be asked to pay something because it gives them a reason to be more committed. A parent wanted to know what research was being done in other countries on the effects student debt was having on participation rates.