News

Briefing on Scottish Government Draft Budget 2017/18

Ahead of the Education and Skills Committee meeting of Wednesday 21 December, Universities Scotland prepared a briefing for members of the committee. The briefing gives an overview of the Scottish Government Draft Budget for 2017/18 from the perspective of Universities Scotland. You can read the briefing here.

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Response to Scottish Government paper: Scotland’s Place in Europe

Universities Scotland has responded to the publication of Scotland’s Place in Europe, the Scottish Government’s position following the result of the EU referendum, as released earlier today. Commenting on the paper, Professor Andrea Nolan, Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of Edinburgh Napier University said: “Higher education transcends borders. Our relationships with Europe, European universities…

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Universities Scotland welcome Professor Peter Scott as Commissioner for Fair Access

Responding to news that Professor Peter Scott has been appointed by the Scottish Government as the first ever Commissioner on Fair Access, Universities Scotland Convener, Professor Andrea Nolan said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Scott as the Commissioner for Fair Access. It is an important appointment and we look forward to working closely with…

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Response to the Scottish Government budget for 2017/18

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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#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…

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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…

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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…

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