Universities Scotland

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2012

Graduates in Scotland Have Best Employment Prospects in the UK - Motion S4M-03647 lodged in the Scottish Parliament

Graduates in Scotland Have Best Employment Prospects in the UK   
That the Parliament notes the publication of Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) 2010/11 by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) in June 2012; further notes HESA’s publication of Employment indicators 2010/11 in July 2012; welcomes the findings that Scotland had the highest rate of positive destinations for its graduates in the UK at 93%, outperforming the rest of the UK by 2.7%, a 0.8% increase for Scotland compared with the previous year; welcomes the finding that graduates from Scotland’s universities retained the lowest level of unemployment in the UK, at 7% compared with 9% in the UK and 10% in England, and that the starting salary for graduates in Scotland was the best in the UK, at a mean of £21,500 compared with £21,000 for the UK; welcomes progress in dealing with graduate underemployment, with a 1% increase in graduates in Scotland getting graduate-level jobs; believes that these figures are the result of a concerted and strategic focus on employability in Scotland’s universities and testament to the value that employers place on the quality higher education delivered by each of Scotland’s 19 universities, and believes that these figures will give a welcome confidence boost to all of Scotland’s students graduating this year and in future years.

Supported by: Richard Lyle, Graeme Dey, Maureen Watt, Kevin Stewart, Clare Adamson, Humza Yousaf, Kenneth Gibson, Dennis Robertson, Margaret Burgess, Roderick Campbell, Joan McAlpine, Joe FitzPatrick, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, John Finnie, John Mason, Gil Paterson, Gordon MacDonald, Annabelle Ewing, Bob Doris, Adam Ingram, James Dornan, Jean Urquhart, David Torrance, Mike MacKenzie, Jamie Hepburn, Angus MacDonald, Marco Biagi, Linda Fabiani, Aileen McLeod

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New code of governance set to make Scottish universities the most progressive in Europe
Universities Scotland welcomes the draft publication of a new code of good governance for Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions today [16 April], describing it as a progressive code which would set Scotland’s universities at the leading edge of accountable governance amongst all of Europe.

The draft code was welcomed by Universities Scotland’s Convener, Professor Pete Downes, also Principal of the University of Dundee:

“The new code makes a significant number of stretching and progressive requirements that will make Scotland’s universities even more transparent, inclusive and accountable to their many stakeholders. I support its introduction in Scotland and I’m confident that all universities will get behind it.

“Universities Scotland welcomed the development of a new code of governance in the spirit of continuous improvement; the principle that universities operate to in all areas of their activity. The code published today builds on the existing UK code which was already held in esteem across Europe and further afield as a model of strong HE governance. The new code, which takes us further on measures of transparency, inclusion and accountability, is set to make Scotland’s universities amongst the most progressive in Europe.”

Key measures within the new draft code include:

  • New measures to provide greater transparency in decisions relating to the remuneration of the Principal.
  • New measures for greater staff and student involvement in the formal appraisal of the Principal.
  • A new requirement to include goals for greater diversity of the governing body membership and regular monitoring of progress towards such goals.
  • The creation of a new role in university governance of Vice Chair with particular responsibility for assessing the Chair’s performance.
  • A requirement for the constitution of a nominations committee for the appointment of lay members of the governing body and selection of the Chair to ensure staff and student engagement.
  • A new requirement that vacancies for independent or lay members of university governing bodies are advertised externally. The recruitment process must address issues of equality and diversity and should involve a skills register to assist in identifying the skills needs of the institution. 
  • Clear responsibilities for the Chair to protect discussions at the governing body from dominance by senior management.
  • Affirmation of the importance of university autonomy
  • Renewed commitment to the importance of academic freedom


The code is now in a final eight-week consultation phase lasting until 11 June. The aim is to approve the final code in time for implementation in academic year 2013/14.

You can read the full press release here. The code can be downloaded at: www.scottishuniversitygovernance.ac.uk