This month we have a series of blogs from young people who are weeks away from graduating and are about to enter the world of work. In these blogs, the graduates will be discussing how university prepared them for their future careers. Our first in this series is from Rebecca Neish, who will graduate from…
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University Chairs add support to Manifesto for the Mobility of Talent
The Manifesto for the Mobility of Talent was published last month by Universities Scotland, NUS Scotland and UCU Scotland. At Universities Scotland, we are delighted to have the support of the Committee of Scottish University Chairs. In this blog, Fiona Sandford, Chair of the University of Stirling’s Court outlines why the Committee are supportive of…
Going International: why studying abroad matters
Anna Bradshaw is a Policy Officer in our International team here at Universities Scotland. She is in a joint role, also working at British Council Scotland. After attending Go International, Anna blogged on the importance of studying abroad. Lots of universities understand that giving students the chance to study, work or volunteer abroad is a…
Beyond the General Election
Duncan McKay works in the Public Affairs team at Universities Scotland. With the General Election only a few weeks away, he speculates on what the political landscape may be like and the implications for the Higher Education sector in Scotland. Theresa May’s decision to call a snap general election was largely unexpected given the Prime…
Building from the Blueprint: Fair access one year on
Dr Kirsty Conlon is Head of Learning & Teaching and Widening Access at Universities Scotland. Kirsty is working with three Principals from across the sector to deliver universities’ response to the Blueprint for Fair Access, published in 2016. Kirsty writes: “March 2017 marks a year since the Blueprint for Fair Access was published by Dame…
“I am welcome to study, but not to work”: An international student’s reflection on being in the UK
Gisele Alves is two years into a PhD in Civil Engineering at Glasgow Caledonian University. Gisele is Brazilian and recently spoke about her reasons for choosing to study in Scotland, and the visa challenges facing her, at a Universities Scotland fringe event at the Scottish Conservatives Party Conference in early March. Gisele said: “When I was…
Getting the self-belief to achieve anything. Access at the University of St Andrews
Lizzy Jenkins is a fourth-year student at the University of St Andrews. She’s from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and is studying Psychology. She went to St Andrews after taking part in various access programmes and is now a student ambassador for other prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds. Lizzy says: “I want to start of by saying a…
#TheFutureDepends: speech by Shirley-Anne Somerville
On 22 November 2016, Universities Scotland held their annual reception in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament. To read more about the event, please read our preview of the event. Universities Scotland were delighted to have the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Shirley-Anne Somerville address our guests. Her speech from our reception…
The future depends on what we do in the present
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The future depends on what you do in the present” and that’s the message that Scottish universities will be delivering to assembled guests, parliamentarians and the Higher Education and Science Minister on Tuesday 22 November at the Scottish Parliament. The future is uncertain: it’s believed that 65% of children who are…
Refugees Welcome
Ulrike Peter, Senior Policy Officer (International) here at Universities Scotland discusses a brand new publication, Guidance for Universities on Providing Asylum Seekers and Refugees with Access to Higher Education. The guidance is a collaborative effort between the Scottish Refugee Council and heads of admissions from a range of Scottish universities. Forms. They are a universal element of applying to a…