The Scottish Government published its budget for 2017/18 today. The budget outlines a resource settlement of £1,013.9 million for higher education. Responding to the Scottish Government’s budget for higher education resource in 2017/18, Professor Andrea Nolan, Convener of Universities Scotland said: “We recognise that the Scottish Government has tried to offer protection of higher education…
News
December
14
2016
Scottish higher education urges the Scotland Office to make positive case on immigration policy in light of Brexit
Professor Andrea Nolan, Convener of Universities Scotland, has called on the Scotland Office today (Wednesday 14 December) to work with Scottish higher education to make a case to the UK Government that positive change is needed to immigration policy to ensure that international talent can come to study in Scotland’s universities and remain after graduation…
December
05
2016
Enterprise & Skills Review: Joint Statement by NUS Scotland, UCU Scotland and Universities Scotland
The following joint statement was issued by NUS Scotland, UCU Scotland and Universities Scotland prior to Wednesday’s (7th December) Education and Skills Committee meeting at the Scottish Parliament concerning the Enterprise and Skills Review with Keith Brown, the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work. This statement should not be seen as the…
December
01
2016
Scale of funding challenge facing universities set out for Holyrood Committee
Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, has told members of the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee today that the ‘underlying risks’ highlighted by the Auditor General’s report into higher education funding are now crystalising following 12 per cent cuts to universities’ overall funding since 2010/11. Alastair Sim was giving evidence to Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee…
November
23
2016
#TheFutureDepends: speech by Shirley-Anne Somerville
On 22 November 2016, Universities Scotland held their annual reception in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament. To read more about the event, please read our preview of the event. Universities Scotland were delighted to have the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Shirley-Anne Somerville address our guests. Her speech from our reception…
November
22
2016
The future depends on what we do in the present
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The future depends on what you do in the present” and that’s the message that Scottish universities will be delivering to assembled guests, parliamentarians and the Higher Education and Science Minister on Tuesday 22 November at the Scottish Parliament. The future is uncertain: it’s believed that 65% of children who are…
November
10
2016
Refugees Welcome
Ulrike Peter, Senior Policy Officer (International) here at Universities Scotland discusses a brand new publication, Guidance for Universities on Providing Asylum Seekers and Refugees with Access to Higher Education. The guidance is a collaborative effort between the Scottish Refugee Council and heads of admissions from a range of Scottish universities. Forms. They are a universal element of applying to a…
October
26
2016
Enterprise & Skills Review: Response to phase one recommendations
The Scottish Government published the phase 1 report of its Enterprise and Skills review on Tuesday 25 October. The recommendations include the creation of a new enterprise body for the South of Scotland and a new Scotland-wide board to sit above the existing agencies. No change is proposed for the Scottish Funding Council although the…
October
14
2016
University leaders welcome certainty from Scottish Government on funding for EU students applying for entry in 2017
Mr Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education has announced today [Friday 14 October] that EU applicants, applying to start undergraduate degree course in Scotland’s universities in autumn 2017, will be eligible for free higher education for the duration of their degree programmes even where their course continues after the UK has left…
October
11
2016
Scotland’s university staff, students and principals call for certainty for EU university applicants following announcement by UK Government
The bodies representing university staff, students and principals have joined together to call on the Scottish Government to offer certainty to EU students already applying to Scotland’s universities to start degree programmes in autumn 2017. The call follows an announcement today [11th October] from UK universities minister, Jo Johnson MP, which confirms that EU students…