Andrew Cubie, convener of Scotland's independent committee on student finance, has called on the government to give higher education an extra £10 billion a year to help boost the knowledge economy.
Mr Cubie, giving the annual guest lecture to the Association of University Administrators at Edinburgh University, stressed higher education's importance in developing the talents of as many people as possible to meet new challenges.
Mr Cubie urged the AUA to demonstrate leadership in calling for increased funding following years of under investment.