We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding petition PE 2022: introduce national safeguarding guidance on how higher education institutions should handle cases of sexual misconduct. Universities are deeply committed to the prevention of gender-based violence, hate crimes and other acts of violence within a university…
Briefings & Evidence
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Response to Independent review of the Skills landscape
We have published our letter from Professor Steve Olivier (Principal, Robert Gordon University & Convener of US Learning & Teaching Committee) to the Scottish Government with the thoughts of Universities Scotland in response to the Independent review of the Skills landscape published in June 2023. In the letter we highlight what we are pleased to…
Response to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, Petition 2000: Ensure universities are held accountable to students under consumer law
We welcomed the opportunity to write to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding Petition 2000: Ensure universities are held accountable to students under consumer law. Our response highlights our belief that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) offers an effective route for complaints-handling in cases where a resolution has not first…
Child poverty and parental employment
Universities Scotland were invited by the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee to give evidence on Thursday 15 June 2023 as part of the committee’s inquiry into child poverty and parental employment.
Erasmus+ and the replacement schemes in place across the UK
We were given the opportunity to provide evidence to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on their inquiry into Erasmus+ and the replacement schemes in place across the UK. In our evidence we highlight: Scotland’s students, staff and universities would benefit significantly from the introduction of a two-way mobility scheme in Scotland, that would complement…
Letter to Education, Children and Young People Committee following Ministerial appearance on 17 May 2023
Universities Scotland Director, Alastair Sim, has written to the Education, Children and Young People Committee following the evidence session given by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Graeme Dey MSP, on Wednesday 17 May.
Submission to the Education, Children & Young People Committee Budget 2023 to 2024 session
Universities Scotland is extremely disappointed by the Scottish Government’s decision to withdraw £20 million of resource funding allocated to the higher education sector for financial year (FY) 2023/24 and to reverse aspects of the budget decision as supported by the Scottish Parliament in the Budget Bill (now Act) as passed on 21 February 2023.
Response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on post-school education, research and skills: interim purpose and principles
We have welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s post-school education, research and skills: interim purpose and principles exercise. We have engaged with the Scottish Government during the consultation phase, which closed on 24 March 2023, culminating in our formal response to their draft.
Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill: written evidence
Ahead of giving evidence on the Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill at the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee on Wednesday 8 February 2023, we have submitted written evidence to the committee.
Response to Professor Hayward’s Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment
We have responded to the consultation on the options for change as part of Professor Hayward’s independent review of the future of qualifications and assessment in Scotland. In our submission, we support the opportunity for learners to have diverse opportunities to meet their needs and interests as they move beyond school to college, university, training,…