Ahead of the Scottish Government led debate on widening access this week, we have prepared a brief that has went to MSPs which outlines our key asks for the widening access agenda. This is to ensure universities are able to meet the 2030 target of 20% of students from the most 20% deprived areas attend…
Briefings & Evidence
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Brief on Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – UK Legislation
Universities Scotland has provided a briefing note to MSPs regarding the Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – UK legislation which is due to be debated in parliament. The Scottish Parliament must decide if they should provide this Bill with a legislative consent motion. Universities Scotland is politically neutral on matters related to…
2024/25 Scottish budget: submission to the Education, Children and Young People’s Committee
We have submitted a brief on the Scottish budget for 2024/25 to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People’s Committee ahead of Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth’s appearance this week on the Scottish budget and post school reform. In our brief, we have highlighted the budgetary pressures the higher education sector…
Budget scrutiny: Submission to the Finance and Public Administration Committee
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…
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…