A SCOTTISH university leader has warned against too much state interference in higher education.

Professor Jim McDonald, principal of Strathclyde University in Glasgow, said radical change should only be considered where existing progress had stalled.

His comments, at the latest Fraser of Allander/Herald Group seminar, come as the Scottish Government is considering a radical shake-up of universities.

Michael Russell, the Scottish Education Secretary, wants to see a greater alignment of public investment with the needs of the wider economy – with funds targeted at national priorities.

However, Mr McDonald warned against being "too heavy-handed about national planning".

"Using the example of energy for Scotland, we have a generational opportunity to become world leading in offshore renewable technologies," he told the seminar at Strathclyde University, chaired by Tim Blott, managing director of Herald & Times Group.

"Different universities in Scotland, with very distinct missions, have already come together to form the Energy Technology Partnership, funded by the Scottish Government, and a national plan of sorts has emerged.

"We risk that at our peril and we lose our ability to respond quickly at our peril – the independent universities, working together for a national benefit, enriching our student experience and developing things we would have missed out on had we not had the autonomous ability to govern, pursue and land major opportunities, while at the same time working with our partners in Government, with our students, staff and industry partners to deliver something of substance and scale."

The seminar also heard concerns from Professor Mike Sterling, chairman of the English-based Science and Technology Facilities Council, that Scotland would miss out on research funding if it became independent.

The issue was first raised in November by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, who said Scottish universities took 14% of funding from UK research councils, despite having just 8.5% of the UK population – a benefit that amounted to some £234 million a year.

Alan Simpson, the chairman of Stirling University, echoed the concerns, stating: "We need to be able to afford blue-sky research and it can be quite expensive."

Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, said widening access was the most critical issue facing universities – and backed controversial Government plans to force institutions to take more students from deprived backgrounds or face fines.

"It remains, in my view, a national scandal that progression rates by the most deprived members of our society stands at only 9%," he said.

"If I can't hold a mirror up to our universities and see Scotland, then we must be getting something wrong.

"We believe universities have a fundamental role to play in supporting the realisation of aspirations through widening access work.

"I firmly regard the Government's plans to introduce widening access agreements as positive.

"And I also believe the only way to ensure these are honoured is to empower the Scottish Funding Council to act, with financial penalties if they see fit, when they aren't honoured."

Meanwhile, Andrew Scott, director of lifelong learning at the Scottish Government, admitted to feeling "queasy" about the Scottish Government's initial pledge to fill the funding gap between English and Scottish universities as a result of higher fees south of the Border.

"It seemed like an enormously generous or bold commitment in the circumstances" he said, but he added: "Every last cent of the gap has been filled."