Responding to today’s Migration Advisory Committee report on international students, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: Today’s report explicitly says that ‘international students offer positive economic benefit.’ If the government’s industrial strategy is to be a success it needs a vibrant higher education sector and it is impossible to imagine that without significant and…
News
September
04
2018
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…
August
07
2018
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…
July
12
2018
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…
June
25
2018
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…
June
25
2018
Reflections on researchers mental health
Following a recent Researcher Training Sub-Committee Policy Forum, Dr Sara Shinton, Head of Researcher Development / IAD Assistant Director and Ruth Meyer, Senior Policy Officer at Universities Scotland reflect on the event. Scotland’s higher education institutions change lives through world-leading research. The researchers who do this, from PhD students to professors are highly driven and gain…
June
18
2018
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…
May
30
2018
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…
May
08
2018
Going Global blog Part 4
Shonagh Maak returns with her fourth and final blog from this year’s Going Global conference. Shonagh is the Internationalisation Manager at the University of Stirling. So my well intentioned efforts of daily blogging on this trip have well and truly failed but in my defence, it has been a pretty hectic few days… Going Global finished on Friday and…
May
03
2018
Going Global blog Part 3
Shonagh Maak has filed her third blog from Malaysia. Shonagh is the Internationalisation Manager at the University of Stirling. Shonagh is currently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia attending Going Global 2o18, the leading international education conference. Seven Scottish higher education institutions are not only attending the conference but also meeting representatives from the Malaysian Government before moving onto Indonesia next week. Shonagh is going…