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…
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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)….
Universities respond to the Scottish Government budget for 2026/27
Responding to the Scottish Government’s settlement for university resource and capital budgets for 2026/27, Professor James Miller, Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of the University of the West of Scotland said; “We recognise the fiscal pressures on the Scottish Government, therefore, a settlement for teaching that sits slightly above inflation is welcome. However, it…
Joint Framework announced to secure the future of Scotland’s universities for the next generation
The Scottish Government and Universities Scotland have today (Thursday 18 December) announced the launch of a new, joint process that will co-design a Framework for a successful and sustainable future for Scotland’s universities for the next 20 years. It is the first fundamental look at how to secure the sustainability of Scotland’s universities since 2010/11….
Universities Scotland welcomes the UK’s reassociation to Erasmus
Universities Scotland welcomes the UK’s reassociation to Erasmus Responding to today’s announcement that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus programme in 2027, Claire McPherson, Director of Universities Scotland said; “Today’s announcement that the UK will rejoin the Erasmus programme from 2027 is very welcome news, and something universities have been calling for since leaving the…
Scotland highlights key assets for international education in new report
In partnership with the British Council Scotland, we have published a report in partnership ‘Scotland’s Higher Education: Partnering for Global Impact’. The report highlights the strengths of Scotland’s higher education system and the uniqueness Scotland’s institutions across five different assets. The assets where Scotland’s higher education system thrives nationally and globally are; Tradition of education…