We have issued a briefing to MPs ahead of a backbench debate in the House of Commons on support for the UK’s creative industries and their contribution to the economy taking place today, Thursday 7 July, Key points include: Scotland’s Creative Industries contribute significantly to the economy, employing 68,500 people across more than 8,000 businesses…
Briefings & Evidence
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Brief for 5 July House of Commons, Science and Technology Committee’s oral evidence session on Leaving the EU: Implications and opportunities for science and research
The Science and Technology Committee will examine the implications and opportunities of leaving the EU for science and research. Among those giving evidence will be Professor Sir Ian Diamond, Chair of the Universities UK Research Policy Network and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen. Universities Scotland has shared a brief with members of…
Submission to the Innovation Centres Review
We have responded to the Independent Review of Innovation Centres Programme chaired by Professor Graeme Reid. This independent review focuses on the delivery of the original vision, aims and objectives of the Innovation Centres Programme. The review will look at the progress and likely success of individual Innovation Centres, recognising that the review comes relatively early in…
Briefing for 16 June Members’ Debate on Rural Communities and the Post Study Work Visa
We have issued a briefing to MSPs ahead of Kate Forbes’ (SNP, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) Members’ Debate on Rural Communities and the Post Study Work Visa to take place on Thursday 16 June at 12.45 pm. We want to see a change to the UK’s immigration policy to allow international students, studying in Scotland, the…
Brief for 14 June 2016 Scottish Government debate on the ‘Contribution of Colleges and Universities to Scotland’s success’
The Scottish Government is leading a debate on Tuesday 14 June in Holyrood entitled ‘The Contribution of Colleges and Universities to Scotland’s success’. Universities Scotland has shared a brief with MSPs that focuses on universities’ role in economic growth, Scotland’s talent pool, fairness, partnerships with schools and colleges and in Scotland’s culture and communities amongst…
Universities Scotland’s position on the Teaching Excellence Framework
On 16 May, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) published, Success as a Knowledge Economy: Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice, a white paper on Higher Education. The white paper contains plans for the development of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). Universities Scotland is engaging constructively in the development of the TEF….
Response to BIS call for ideas for the National Innovation Plan
We have responded to a call from the UK Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) for ideas for the National Innovation Plan. Our response highlights the crucial role of universities in national innovation across our key activities of research, education and knowledge exchange – particularly in terms of developing enterprising talent. We also…
Submission to the BIS Committee’s inquiry into Business views on the EU Referendum
Universities Scotland has responded to the House of Common’s Business, Innovation and Skill’s Committee’s call for evidence as part of its inquiry into Business views on the EU Referendum. Our key messages to the Committee are as follows: Universities Scotland’s position on Europe is to set out the opportunities and challenges as we see them,…
Response to Lord Stern’s review of the Research Excellence Framework
We have responded to Lord Stern’s review of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The review poses nine questions in relation to aspects of the REF process including on the allocation of quality-related research funding (QR in England and the Research Excellence Grant,…
Stage 3 of HE Governance Bill – briefing for MSPs on amendments
This briefing paper summaries our position on each of the amendments to the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill at Stage 3. Our primary concern is to ensure that the Bill, as passed, represents a workable model of governance for Scotland’s 18 high-performing higher education institutions. We offer this brief without prejudice to our members’ strong…