With the public backing universities as key to future economic success, politicians are urged to back universities in May’s election
75 per cent of Scots agreed or strongly agreed that universities are key to the UK’s future economic success, according to public polling conducted across Scotland in January 2026 and published today (Monday, 9 February). The polling coincides with the publication of Universities Scotland’s manifesto for the 2026 elections: Our Universities in Support of Scotland.
In response to a series of questions about the future, Scots held clear views about the need to stay ahead in a rapidly changing world and on the role that a highly skilled population, industry growth, and scientific discovery will play in future economic success.
With public sentiment already positive, a further two-thirds of people in Scotland saw potential for universities to deliver further impact, with 66% agreeing or strongly agreeing that universities could do more to contribute to future success.
The May elections are an important opportunity to turbo-charge Scotland’s economic growth and prosperity. Universities Scotland’s manifesto sets out a range of policy and funding asks of the next Scottish Government and Parliament that could significantly turn up the dial on the impact of skills development, research and innovation, and support for business creation and industry growth.
Public sentiment was clear on the routes to a successful future:
- 87% of Scots agree or strongly agree that it is important to have successful industries in all parts of the UK.
- 86% of Scots agree or strongly agree that to be economically successful, it is important to fully utilise the skills and talents of its entire population.
- 66% of Scots agree or strongly agree that the UK’s future success depends on the ability to make scientific discoveries and invent new things.
With the Scottish elections less than 100 days away, the polling is a timely reminder of the opportunity the election presents to enhance the significant contribution that universities make to Scotland’s economic future. Universities Scotland’s manifesto calls for a suite of new policies and funding approaches that would support universities in maximising their economic contribution. They include:
- Financing a new Future Skills Fund worth £7.5 million to retrain and upskill the existing workforce.
- Making universities a key partner in Scotland’s national and regional skills planning.
- Unlocking the potential for new earn-and-learn models of university study to address skills shortages.
- Create a new Cabinet position to champion Scotland’s world-class research and innovation.
- Committing to multi-year, increased funding for the Proof of Concept fund as an important signal of confidence to the business and investor community.
The manifesto also calls on all political parties to back the Framework for the Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities, a process which is co-owned by the Scottish Government and Universities Scotland. Launched in December 2025, the Framework is tasked with securing the financial future and success of universities for the next twenty years as a foundation stone on which the sector’s wider contributions depend. The Framework is expected to report in autumn 2026 and will be one of the first major policy issues that the next Scottish Government and Parliament will need to address.
Responding to the polling results, Professor James Miller FRSE, Convener of Universities Scotland, said:
“The public recognises the pace of change we face as a country and wants to see Scotland turn that into economic opportunity for everyone’s benefit. Skills, research, innovation, and thriving industry clusters will be core to Scotland’s prosperous future, and our universities have such an important role to play in delivering on all fronts.
Going into May’s election, I am calling on all political parties to support our universities in support of Scotland. Universities have tremendous assets in our people, our ideas, our creativity, and in our collective sense of ambition for our country. Putting the right policies and funding in place for universities could be transformative over the next five-to-ten years.”
ENDS
NOTES:
- Download Universities Scotland’s manifesto, Our Universities in Support of Scotland.
- In addition to calls for policy and funding initiatives in support of economic growth, Universities Scotland’s manifesto makes a call for measures that would enable universities to do more to support students and the NHS.
- Scotland’s election is on 7 May 2026.
- The polling was conducted by Public First for Universities UK and asked a series of questions of the public between 19-22 January. The sample size in Scotland was 258 people out of a total UK sample of over 2,000 aged 18 to 65+.