Yesterday, the Office for Students (OfS) announced new requirements for universities in England to protect students from harassment and sexual misconduct. This includes a ban on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), commencing on 1 September 2024. Scotland’s universities have been united behind a position never to use NDAs or “confidentiality clauses” in cases of harassment since 2019….
News
UK Government outlines position on international students
Last week, the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson set out the position of the Labour Government on international students. She made it clear that international students are welcome in the UK. We strongly welcome this announcement. International students contribute widely to society and to our communities during their time in the UK. Our…
June
26
2024
Response to the next steps on post-school reform: a Scottish Government consultation
The Scottish Government has launched a consultation on proposals for legislation to change what public bodies do in the post-school system. This consultation will focus on gathering proposals that aim to simplify the responsibilities for apprenticeships and student support. Following the launch of this consultation, Professor Iain Gillespie, Convener of Universities Scotland said: “Following dialogue…
May
23
2024
Universities “relieved” the Graduate Route for international students has been retained
The UK Government has today confirmed that the graduate route will remain in place for international students of all UK universities. The graduate route allows international students to remain in the UK upon graduation for two years (on average) after successful completing a relevant course in the UK. The UK Government had been expected to…
May
22
2024
Will Whitehorn: The importance of the graduate route to the UK
Published in The Times today, Will Whitehorn outlines the importance of the graduate route to the UK, determining that it should remain as it is. He highlights that the removal or reform of the graduate route would have a negative impact on university finances immediately, and a damaging impact on industry, on growth, on innovation…
May
14
2024
Universities Scotland responds to the Migration Advisory Committee’s report on the Graduate Route for international students
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has today, published its report evaluating the Graduate Route, as part of student immigration, as commissioned by the UK Government earlier this year. The key recommendation, one of six in the report, is that the Graduate Route should be retained in its current form. The MAC was asked to review…
May
14
2024
Joint letter warns of risks to Scottish economy if migrations rules are tightened
We, with Scottish Cities Alliance, have written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak regarding our concerns of the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) review of the graduate route, and the implications increased migration controls would have on international students. We emphasise that the economic benefits that international students bring to Scotland go far beyond universities as they…
May
10
2024
Scotland’s universities demonstrate integrity in international recruitment with adoption of the UK Agent Quality Framework
17 of Scotland’s universities and higher education institutions have pledged adoption of the UK Agent Quality Framework, making a strong commitment to integrity and transparency in the use of international agents. The move seeks to uphold the highest standards in international recruitment and therefore reassure prospective and current students, the public and politicians, where universities’…
May
07
2024
International links: importance and strengthening of Scotland’s relationships
Ela Kossakowska, our Connected Scotland project officer, has written a blog about an event led by Connected Scotland with Scotland’s Universities International Group (SUIG), hosted at Scotland House in London, with the aim of building and strengthening Scotland’s international relationships. Connected Scotland and SUIG once again invited education and culture attaches and sponsors to Scotland…
“Toughest Funding Settlement” as the SFC’s AY 2024/25 Indicative Allocations are published
Universities Scotland responds to the publication of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) academic year 2024/25 indicative allocations to universities and higher education institutions. Professor Iain Gillespie, Convener of Universities Scotland, said: “This is by far the toughest funding settlement universities have faced, as £28.5 million of Government cuts had to be found from next year’s…