The Principals of Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions have confirmed that they intend to pay the living wage to staff. Each Principal confirmed their intention to pay the living wage at their institution during Universities Scotland’s Committee of Principals on Wednesday, 15 April 2015. Every member of staff covered by collective pay agreements at Scotland’s…
News
April
12
2015
Pete Downes: There are big risks in tying universities up in red tape
In the rush to get things done, sometimes the best approach is to pause, take a step back and revisit what it is you are hoping to achieve. The responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation on higher education governance legislation are a clear indication that the Scottish Government should do exactly that. They make for…
April
09
2015
University principals ask the Scottish Government to stop and think about potentially damaging governance proposals in light of strong concern from civic Scotland
Business leaders, student associations and other independent commentators have added weight to the serious concern already expressed by university leaders at Scottish Government proposals to legislate on higher education governance. The Scottish Government has published an analysis of the written responses to its consultation on higher education governance today (Thursday 9 April). Over 125 submissions…
April
09
2015
University Chairs commit to a minimum of 40 per cent of both genders on boards
The Chairs of Scotland’s 18 higher education institutions[1] have today [Thursday, 9 April] announced a commitment to achieve gender equality within the membership of their governing bodies, the highest level of governance within a university. The commitment to achieve a minimum of 40 per cent of both men and women on the governing body [2],…
March
25
2015
Advances on access to university for students of all backgrounds shows that taking a wide approach to widening access pays off
Figures released today by the Scottish Funding Council [Wednesday 25 March] in its ninth Learning for All report show increases in the number of students starting university from across a wide range of under-represented groups including: students living in Scotland’s most deprived 20 and 40 per cent of neighbourhoods – up 10.1 per cent and…
March
25
2015
Alastair Sim: Life as an academic
Scotland’s higher education sector already has it right on democratic approach to management/union relations, writes Alastair Sim. I was surprised to read the results of a YouGov poll last month that found more people across Britain wanted to be a university academic than a TV presenter, interior designer or Hollywood star. The role of academic was…
March
17
2015
Scotland’s universities welcome appointment of Chair to Widening Access Commission
Scotland’s universities welcome appointment of Chair to Widening Access Commission Universities Scotland has today, Tuesday 17 March, warmly welcomed the announcement of Dame Ruth Silver’s appointment to Chair the Scottish Government’s Commission on Widening Access. Scotland’s universities are committed to widening access to university for every single child with the desire and ability, no matter…
March
06
2015
Memorandum of Understanding signed between Scottish and Korean universities
Today, Wednesday 6 March, universities in Scotland and South Korea will sign a memorandum of understanding to foster closer academic ties between the two countries. The formal agreement is to be signed by the representative bodies of universities in both countries; Universities Scotland and the Korean Council for University Education at an event hosted by…
March
06
2015
Cuts to university research funding see Scotland’s “world class” universities as victims of their own success
Allocations of the Scottish Funding Council’s main research grants for higher education institutions were announced today (6 March). The announcement confirms a much-feared cut of £12.9 million to funds available for university research next year. Several individual universities will lose millions in funding despite returning their strongest performance in “world-leading” research as confirmed by the…
February
03
2015
Universities Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on a Higher Education Governance Bill
Universities Scotland has today, Tuesday 3 February, published its response to the Scottish Government’s university governance consultation. You can read the response in full here. Professor Pete Downes, Convener of Universities Scotland, has commented on a number of aspects of the university governance consultation: University autonomy and diversity “Principals believe in inclusive, transparent and robustly accountable…