(L-R) Holyrood candidates, Kim Schmulian (Reform UK Scotland), Iris Duane (Scottish Greens), Daniel Khan-O’Malley (Scottish Liberal Democrats), Daniel Bowman (Scottish Conservatives)
Photo: Jason Fong / Strathclyde Telegraph

Candidates at a University of Strathclyde hustings, moderated by Mark Shephard, debated a wide range of issues, including immigration, energy policy and transgender rights, but education emerged as one of the evening’s dominant themes, with discussion focusing on university funding, apprenticeships and graduate employment.

The event, held ahead of the upcoming Scottish Parliament election, brought together candidates from across the political spectrum, including Kim Shmulian of Reform UK, Iris Duane representing the Scottish Greens, Daniel K O’Malley of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Daniel Bowman representing the Scottish Conservatives. 

The hustings went ahead despite the absence of George Adam and Bonnie Sandlin, who withdrew shortly before the event. 

Asked what their platforms would offer students, candidates set out contrasting approaches to education, funding and graduate employment. 

Kim Shmulian, Reform UK candidate for Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok, criticised what she described as a system that encourages students into university without sufficient consideration of employment outcomes. 

“Students should be told about what’s happening in the economy, where the jobs of the future are going to be. 

“Schools are often very focused on just pushing as many of their gifted kids as possible to university without really any thought of what happens at the end of that.” 

She warned against graduates leaving university with debt and limited job prospects. 

“We don’t want people leaving with a degree they can’t put to work and a huge student loan that they’ve got to pay off. 

“We want to see more funding going to colleges, and we want more work done on the skills that are actually going to be needed in the economy, “ added Shmulian. 

Iris Duane, Scottish Greens candidate for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill constituency, focused on funding pressures in higher education, arguing that cuts across the sector were affecting both institutions and students. 

She said universities were increasingly competing for income, which was influencing course provision. 

“Our universities are relying on international students to make up that funding which is often forcing them to take on more and more students, which is stretching the services that they already have to the absolute limit. 

“We’ve seen brutal cuts across the sector while our universities are forced to look for students who can pay the highest fees. It’s not fair.” 

Duane criticised what she described as the “marketisation” of higher education, arguing that universities should prioritise learning and knowledge rather than profitability. 

“Universities are educational institutions. It’s not about marketisation of education, it’s about transferring those skills and knowledge and everything that we have as the human race to the next generation.” 

She argued that some subjects were unfairly labelled “niche” because they were not viewed as financially valuable. 

More investment was needed in universities and graduate pathways, including partnerships with the public and private sectors to improve employment opportunities after graduation. 

Daniel Khan-O’Malley, Scottish Liberal Democrats cadndiate for for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill constituency, echoed concerns about graduate employment, saying:

“We need to be working to provide graduates with routes into careers that will support them going forward.”

“All the degrees at the universities are meaningful; it’s this point of why are they being cut? The current funding model is not working for the situation that universities are facing,” he added.

Khan-O’Malley called for improvements in support for students with additional needs, particularly around neurodivergent testing.

“I taught at the University of Glasgow, and too many students didn’t have that assessment so that I, as a teacher, could provide them with that support.

“We need to get that sped up so people get diagnosed so they can get the plans in place to support them,” he added. 

Daniel Bowman of the Scottish Conservatives candidate for Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill, said students should be offered a range of pathways, including both university education and apprenticeships. 

“If you want to do an apprenticeship, if you want to go to university, then choices are available.” 

He said universities should focus more closely on employment outcomes and work with employers to ensure graduates leave with job opportunities. 

Bowman added that economic policy should aim to improve prospects for young people entering the labour market after university. 

Across the discussion, apprenticeships, graduate employment, and the value of degree pathways emerged as recurring themes, with candidates setting out differing views on how best to support students through education and into work.

Julia Braun Raven

Hi, I’m Julia Braun Raven, a second-year Journalism, Media & Creative Writing student. I’m co-Editor-in-Chief and Features Editor, and I love creating stories that matter to students, inspiring them, supporting what they’re passionate about, and celebrating their achievements. I’m especially interested in arts, culture, and student life, and I enjoy bringing energy, curiosity, and a love of storytelling to every piece I work on.