We have made a submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee ahead of their session tomorrow 9 January to scrutinise the 2024/25 budget, set out by the Scottish Government on 19 December. Our call to action is that additional funding might be found, during the passage of the budget bill, to reduce…
Briefings & Evidence
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Response to Scottish Government’s Education Bill consultation
The Scottish Government’s consultation on the forthcoming Education Bill, which will legislate for a qualifications body (to replace SQA) and an inspection agency (to replace the existing function in Education Scotland) closed yesterday. The Education Bill will establish a new qualifications body for Scotland, which will have similar functions to SQA but will also have…
Universities Scotland: A brief for Ministerial statement on post-school reform
Universities Scotland have circulated a brief to MSPs within the Scottish Parliament ahead of the Minister for Higher Education, Further Education and Veterans, Graeme Dey’s statement to Parliament on post-school reform. Within this brief, we have highlighted our key messages which inlcude: Universities welcomed many of the bold ideas in the Withers report on skills…
Science and Scotland: follow up
Following our appearance at Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee on their inquiry into Science and Scotland, we have written a follow up letter to provide the Committee with additional evidence on their inquiry. In our follow up letter, we have provided further information to Douglas Ross MP on the balance on international student recruitment in Scotland…
Skills fit for the future: our key messages to the Scottish Parliament
We have circulated a brief to MSP’s ahead of James Withers appearing at the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People’s Committee on Wednesday 15 November. Within this brief, we have outlined our response to the Withers Review and what our key messages are to inform members of Parliament what the sector would like to…
Science and Scotland: Submission to the UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee
Universities Scotland have submitted evidence to the UK Parliament’s Scottish Affairs Committee on their inquiry into Science and Scotland. In our evidence, we highlight that research is an area in which Scotland is genuinely “world-leading” in terms of quality and excellence. Also, how research is a significant asset for Scotland propelling innovation, economic growth, the…
Submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee on the sustainability of Scotland’s finances
We are delighted to submit to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee on their inquiry into the sustainability of Scotland’s finances. This is ahead of our Director, Alastair Sim’s appearance at the Committee. Our submission highlights the ways in which universities are a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in Scotland. We have…
Brief on student accommodation: pressures & solutions
As the 2023/24 academic year begins, Universities Scotland has established a brief on the pressures and solutions on student accommodation at universities. This brief covers three different areas of work that Universities Scotland has undertook in preparation for this academic year. These areas are: Supporting students in a high-pressure market for accommodation Policy adjustments that…
Response to Petition2009: Ensure fair access to Scottish universities for all residents in Scotland and the UK
We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding Petition2009: Ensure fair access to Scottish universities for all residents in Scotland and the UK. Universities Scotland believe that in aggregate across the sector, there are sufficient university places available to meet the aspirations of suitably qualified Scots-domiciled…
Response to Professor Hayward’s independent review of qualifications and assessments
We welcome the independent review of qualifications and assessment by Professor Hayward and have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to express our view on this review. Our response focuses on: the inclusion and equality of the report and how we see the addressing of the poverty related attainment gap as a…