Scottish Liberal Democrats have pledged to stand up for students as they restated their "commitment" to free university education.
Society as a whole benefits when "education is offered on the principle of ability to learn", education spokesman Liam McArthur said.
UK party leader Nick Clegg recently apologised for breaking a promise to oppose any increase in university fees in England.
Speaking before the UK Lib Dem party conference in Brighton last month, the Deputy Prime Minister said he was sorry that his party broke its promise, made before the 2010 general election, to vote against increasing fees for students.
But although Mr Clegg said he was sorry, it was not for the increase in tuition fees itself. Instead, he was sorry the Lib Dems ever opposed the increase because they had not costed the policy properly.
Mr McArthur used an online article for the National Union of Students (NUS) website to insist that the Lib Dems in Scotland still support free university education.
"Society benefits when education is offered on the principle of ability to learn. We are committed, therefore, to free higher education in Scotland. We are committed to reducing student indebtedness."
By "standing up for students, we are standing up for a strong economy which draws from a broad and talented skills base", according to Mr McArthur.
"If we are serious about getting the economy back on track then we must recognise that education is pivotal to that journey.
"Working constructively with NUS Scotland we will continue to stand up for Scottish students, providing a voice for them in the Scottish Parliament and beyond."
