Universities Scotland is delighted to confirm two changes to our Executive Group and wider Committee Convenerships, coinciding with the new academic year. Martin Boyle, Principal of the Open University in Scotland has been appointed Vice Convener, to serve a two-year term, supporting Professor James Miller in the role of Convener and Professor Sue Rigby of…
News
Strong sector performance on widen access to university
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today published its report on Widening Access 2024/25. The report showcases the fantastic news that the first-time degree entrants to university from Scottish domiciled backgrounds has increased, illustrating that universities are making steady progress to the 2030 Commissioner for Widening Access targets. Commenting on the report, Claire McPherson, Director…
Scottish Funding Council announces repurposing of university funding to support transformation
Today the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) have announced support for seven university-led projects which will drive innovation, collaboration and long-term sustainability through the SFC’s University Transformation Framework (UTF). The SFC established the framework to enable the redirection of some core funding to give universities greater flexibility in developing innovative approaches to transformation and strengthen partnerships…
The GSA Provides Update on the Future of the Mackintosh Building
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has today published a detailed and up-to-date analysis of options for the future of the Mackintosh Building. As the custodian of this important heritage asset, the GSA remains committed to exploring every opportunity for the Mackintosh be faithfully reinstated, and the Board has agreed to invest in a significant enabling…
Universities and business – strong partners in research and innovation
Research and innovation are among Scotland’s economic assets, and it’s official that Scotland’s university research is more actively linked to industry than in any other area of the UK when measured by joint authorship of academic papers. A new report out from Frontier Economics today, commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council reinforces & quantifies the…
Universities are Scotland’s Universal Partner
Universities are Scotland’s Universal Partner Today, Monday 1 June, sees the launch of a new campaign called Universal Partners. This campaign celebrates the contribution universities make to Scotland’s four national priorities, thanks to the strength of their partnerships across the public, private and third sector. Universal Partners features over 50 partnerships involving 120 highly diverse…
Scottish Government Cabinet and Ministers announced
Universities Scotland has welcomed the recent Cabinet appointments, offering congratulations to those taking up new ministerial roles and highlighting the importance of continued collaboration between Government and the higher education sector. Professor James Miller, Convener of Universities Scotland, said: “Congratulations to John Swinney on being sworn in as First Minister, to Jenny Gilruth for her…
Scotland an ideal place for evidence-led policy making
Universities Scotland is pleased to partner with the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) in publishing a new report today (Tuesday 24 March) which focuses on the role of research in developing strong, evidence-led policy making and sets out a case to make Scotland an ideal “test-bed” for research-policy exchange (RPE). The report, Research Policy Exchange…
Scottish Government Spinouts report sets out integral role of universities in national research ecosystem
The Scottish Government yesterday published Ideas to Impact: Scottish Spinouts Report which sets out the strengths, ambition, and progress of its research commercialisation policies. The report sets out a framework of metrics to monitor progress of Scotland’s research commercialisation ecosystem, of which universities are an integral part, over the next five years. Commenting on the…
Back universities for future economic success
With the public backing universities as key to future economic success, politicians are urged to back universities in May’s election 75 per cent of Scots agreed or strongly agreed that universities are key to the UK’s future economic success, according to public polling conducted across Scotland in January 2026 and published today (Monday, 9 February)….