Inverse photoemission and 3p-3d giant resonance excitation in electron
energy loss spectroscopy in oxidized Sc are related to 2p --> 3d x-ra
y absorption in Sc2O3. The observations are shown to be consistent wit
h 3d states being localized in both the presence and the absence of a
core hole. Inverse photoemission reveals 3d crystal field splitting co
mparable to that found in 2p --> 3d excitations, while 3p-3d excitatio
ns show in addition strong hole-electron exchange coupling.