PROFESSOR Bernard King's clear and unambiguous support (Debate & Opinion, 28 November) for the SNP's pragmatic stance that Scottish universities should "accept the challenge of demonstrating how their activities align closely with the Scottish Government's purpose and strategic objectives", is, at best, misconceived and, at worst, perilous. Tertiary education in Scotland has a proud heritage in the "democratic intellect" and a "generalist educational philosophy"; one that has given way, albeit partly, to a collective sense of being that has shaped our very identity as a nation. This wholly independent intellectual heritage is not to be meddled with; it forms the justification for our abiding faith in free education for all, supported by the majority of civic groups as well as all political parties, including, ironically, the SNP itself. It has also given way to a unique appreciation of academic freedom, now established in law.

Any alignment with the government's strategic objectives, especially narrowly defined and short-term economic ones, can only serve to limit these academic freedoms and the very character of Scottish tertiary education. More importantly, perhaps, such an alignment will not justify the increased sums of money that will have to be given to the sector in order to properly compete with universities south of the Border.