Universities Scotland was first asked to respond to a media enquiry from the Times on Monday, 4 July in regard to university application processes and the means by which it is possible for universities to determine whether students have unspent criminal convictions or otherwise pose a heightened risk to others. The Times then ran this…
News
June
02
2022
Queen’s Birthday Honours recognises Dame Sally Mapstone
Professor Sally Mapstone has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in her Platinum Jubilee year. Sally has been made a DBE for her extraordinary services to higher education. Dame Sally has been Principal and Vice Chancellor the University of St Andrews since 2016. She has been Vice Convener of Universities Scotland since 2020 and…
June
01
2022
Response to resource spending review
The Scottish Government published its resource spending review today, setting out its high-level spending intentions to 2026/27. It includes an indicative, combined allocation for higher education and further education. The combined budget is set to be flat in cash terms for the next four years at £1,501 million. Responding to the announcement, which represents a…
May
31
2022
Our response to Sir Peter Scott’s Final Report as Commissioner for Fair Access
Responding to the final report from the Commission for Fair Access, Sir Peter Scott, Director of Universities Scotland, Alastair Sim said: “Scotland’s universities have achieved a lot when it comes to widening access in recent years. As a sector, we have introduced the most progressive admissions policies for students in the UK and have reached…
May
27
2022
Professor Sally Mapstone on University Funding
Professor Sally Mapstone FRSE is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of St Andrews. She is also the Vice Convener of Universities Scotland and chairs our Admissions Policy Group. Published in The Herald on Friday 27th May 2022. Since its establishment in 1413 as Scotland’s first university, the University of St Andrews has been…
May
26
2022
Research and innovation at risk with cuts to funding
University leaders are warning that Scotland’s hard won reputation for research and innovation is at risk. The Scottish Funding Council has issued its funding allocations for universities for the next academic year 2022/23 including the Research Excellence Grant. The Research Excellence Grant supports top-quality research with the aim to keep Scotland globally competitive and attractive…
May
25
2022
Universities Scotland announce new elected leadership team
Universities Scotland is delighted to announce that Professor Sally Mapstone has been elected to the role of Convener for a period of two years, from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2024. Sir Paul Grice will take up the role of Vice Convener for the same period. Universities Scotland represents all 19 of Scotland’s higher…
May
17
2022
New figures show no let-up on widening access from universities
Universities Scotland have welcomed the publication of the Report on Widening Access 2020-21 by the sector’s funding body, the Scottish Funding Council which demonstrates the sector’s commitment to widening access. The Scottish Government’s Commission on Widening Access set the sector a target that by 2021, students from the 20% most-disadvantaged backgrounds (SIMD20) should represent at…
May
12
2022
REF 2021: Scotland’s universities deliver research of “world leading” quality and impact
The results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), an exercise to assess the quality and impact of UK university research, are published today (Thursday, 12 May) and found Scotland’s universities are performing at a “world-leading” and “internationally excellent” standard. 84.86% of Scotland’s research has been judged to be 4* and 3* on the overall measure,…
April
28
2022
Universities’ achievement hailed in new world impact rankings
Universities Scotland has welcomed new global rankings that demonstrate the impact of institutions’ teaching and research on improving the world as aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Seven universities* from Scotland are represented in the rankings, all featuring in the top 20% of more than 1,500 universities globally. The Times Higher Education…