Universities Scotland Convener, Prof James Miller shares his thoughts on the launch of the Future Funding Framework partnership.
A major cross-party initiative to secure the long-term financial viability and sustainability of Scotland’s university sector has been launched today by Universities Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Government.
The initiative marks one of the most substantial reviews of Scotland’s university funding landscape in decades, aiming to secure a sustainable, forward-looking framework capable of supporting excellence, access and innovation for years to come.
The wide-ranging review—backed by all parties at Holyrood—aims to develop an impartial, evidence-driven funding framework capable of supporting world-class teaching, research and innovation for decades to come. The work is also supported by trade union and student representative bodies.
At the heart of the programme is a commitment to quantify, with clarity and rigour, the true scale of resources required for Scotland’s universities to remain competitive internationally while continuing to serve national social and economic priorities. The review will analyse the true costs of high-quality teaching and research in detail, building a comprehensive evidence base to inform future public investment and institutional planning.
The project also seeks to examine how the sector can transform to better meet the needs of future students and Scotland’s evolving economy. With rapid technological change and global competition reshaping higher education, the review will draw on international best practice to ensure that Scottish universities remain at the forefront of innovation. Particular attention will be paid to the ways universities can enhance their impact through business creation, knowledge exchange, and international collaboration.
Shared objectives agreed between Government and the sector will guide the work. These include maintaining fairness for learners and developing options to future-proof provision for the next generation of industries and workforce needs, while ensuring that institutions are funded sustainably enough to succeed both nationally and on the global stage.
In scope is a holistic examination of the sector’s purpose, covering teaching, research, innovation and the breadth of civic and economic contributions universities make. The programme aims to articulate a sustainable business model that supports greater long-term flexibility in provision, improves learner pathways across the wider education system, and enables forms of strategic collaboration that increase effectiveness across institutions.
To deliver this, a new Steering Group—jointly chaired and supported by expert Project Groups—will oversee a structured programme of work. Each Project Group will draw on specialist knowledge from within and beyond the sector. Their remits will be set by the Steering Group, which will receive regular reports and develop recommendations accordingly.
Recognising the strong cross-party interest in safeguarding the future of higher education, the review will include at least three formal engagements with Scotland’s opposition parties. These sessions, led by the Co-Chairs with ministerial participation, are intended to ensure wide political involvement in shaping a settlement that commands national consensus.
Ultimately, the success of this review will be measured not only in the resilience of Scotland’s universities, but in the wider economic and social dividends it helps unlock. A future funding framework that equips institutions to innovate, supports students to thrive, and aligns higher education with the country’s long-term ambitions is vital to Scotland’s prosperity. By grounding decisions in robust evidence and forging consensus across the political spectrum, this work represents a critical step toward ensuring that higher education continues to act as one of Scotland’s most powerful engines of opportunity, growth and global competitiveness.