Scots support more flexible immigration rules for international students
New polling data on Scots’ attitudes on immigration shows strong support for easing restrictions placed on students from overseas (outside of the EU). Public support comes as our sister organisation, Universities UK, launches a new policy proposal for a post-study work visa for international students. The proposed arrangements would allow international students to work in […]
Universities Scotland comments on SQA results day
Responding to today’s SQA results and UCAS university placings, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Hearty congratulations are in order to Scots the length and breadth of the country on their Highers results and for the next stage in their life, whatever that may entail. “We have seen a 5% increase in placed applicants […]
Universities Scotland comment on latest UCAS 30 June applications release
Commenting on the latest release from UCAS 2018 cycle applicant figures – June deadline, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Universities are places of lifelong learning, and it’s encouraging to see an increase in applicants aged 20 and over. The 20 plus age group is also key to widening access, as we see increased applicant […]
Universities Scotland react to research and innovation funding announcement
Reaction to the news that the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council are awarding Scottish universities £11.6m to help us compete for research projects alongside industry partners, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: This £11.6m announcement from the Scottish Government is most welcome. The money will used to support world-leading research as well as supporting […]
Glasgow School of Art devastated by fire
On the evening of Friday 15 June 2018, a major fire broke out at the Glasgow School of Art’s historic Mackintosh (‘The Mack’) building. Scottish Fire and Rescue Services spent the weekend extinguishing the blaze and fortunately, there were no casualties. The building has been undergoing an extensive restoration following the 2014 fire and has not been […]
Universities Scotland responds to Funding Council report on widening access
The Scottish Funding Council has today (Wednesday 30 May 2018) published its annual report on widening access. The report provides data for academic year 2016/17 and tracks student entrants, progression and qualifiers in university and college according to metrics of socio-economic disadvantage and protected characteristics. Responding to today’s report and the higher education sector’s work […]
Scottish universities head to South East Asia for sector mission
Seven Scottish higher education institutions are off to South East Asia to meet with officials in the Malaysian and Indonesian governments to promote the expertise of universities in Scotland in addition to attending the British Council’s Going Global conference. The delegation of 16 will be spending five days in Malaysia before five will travel onto […]
Scottish universities better UK average for retention for first time in a generation
Responding to the latest HESA data release on non-continuation of studies, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: The fact that this is the first time in 19 years that the retention rate in Scotland is better than the UK average is significant and a cause for celebration. The sector and individual institutions have dedicated […]
Response to Ministerial Statement on Widening Access
In response to the Ministerial Statement on Widening Access in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 March 2018, Alastair Sim, the Director of Universities Scotland said: Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions, the length and breadth of Scotland, large and specialist, are committed to widening access. Today’s statement from the Minister reiterated a lot of the […]
Young Scots give their support to work to widen access
2018 is the Year of Young People and it is also a year which will see a really busy programme of work taken forward by universities to widen access. Late last year we set out 15 actions in Working to Widen Access that we believe will deliver a big step forward in widening access. 2018 […]