Dr Martin Bartos was educated at Douglas Academy and Edinburgh University. After qualifying in medicine he worked as a researcher at Glasgow University on a project to develop advanced IT solutions for the medical community, specialising in mobile technology and security issues. Martin understands the crucial benefits of good further and higher education, and the financial pressures many students now face in completing their education.
Here's what the Scottish Green Party says about it:
Further and higher education have important roles in strengthening the economy and building equality in a green Scotland. Our outstanding universities and colleges will be crucial partners in developing a socially just country with a strong knowledge economy.
Student debt has reached unacceptable levels. We will scrap the current graduate endowment and bring back student grants. This would form part of moves towards a national citizen’s income scheme, guaranteeing a minimum
income for students. Further education students also need greater financial support while studying at college.
We will scrap the top-up fees currently in place for medical students from other parts of the UK. We reject top-up fees as a method of funding higher education.
We will cut the cost of international student visas and bring forward the date at which Fresh Talent applications can be made, allowing better access to Scottish universities for international students. We will help institutions increase support for international students.
We recognise the role of adult education as an agent of progressive social and political change and will create a strategy for widening access to, and improving retention in, further and higher education, including greater support for part-time and informal study.
We support strong and campaigning student unions in universities and further education colleges. They are vital in ensuring that students can participate in decision making. We will ensure that university courts have popularly elected independent chairs along the lines of university rectors.
