Universities Scotland “delighted” by UK’s return to Horizon Europe Universities Scotland have welcomed today’s announcement that the UK will associate to the Horizon Europe and Copernicus programmes for the remainder of this programme (until 2027). Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion. Over the…
News
July
31
2023
84% of Scottish graduates say going to university got them the job they wanted
Research from Universities Scotland highlights the value of going to university, including that: 84.5% of Scottish graduates credit their university with helping them gain employment 74% of Scottish graduates found a job reflective of their ambitions in under a year thanks to their degree 75% of business leaders believe going to university enables graduates to…
Increasing number of Scottish university students from deprived backgrounds requires a change in how deprivation is defined
Dr Kirsty Conlon, Head of Learning, Teaching and Widening Access has shared her thoughts in The Scotsman on the journey that Scottish universities will take to achieve the 2030 target of 20% of all students entering university will come from the nation’s 20% most deprived areas. She also outlines the challenges that will be faced…
July
25
2023
Widening access success as record number of students enter university
Interim targets on widening access met Increased numbers of widening access, care experienced and disabled students entering university An increase in the proportion of students coming to university from college Universities Scotland has welcomed the release of the Report on Widening Access 2021-22 by the Scottish Funding Council. Commenting on the report, Alastair Sim, Director…
July
07
2023
Principals welcome progress on association to Horizon Europe and urge the Prime Minister to bring back a deal
Three leading Principals of Scotland’s universities have written jointly to the Prime Minister to welcome his Government’s work to reach the final stages of a deal on the UK’s association to the Horizon Europe programme. Speculation has been growing that the Prime Minister is set to finalise a proposal over the weekend, to then be…
June
28
2023
Publication of the Scottish Government’s Purpose and Principles
Today the Scottish Government has published its Purpose and Principles framework for building an excellent post-school education, research and skills ecosystem. Commenting on the framework, Sir Paul Grice, Vice Convener of Universities Scotland, said: “Universities will always support a learner-centered approach and are relentlessly focused on delivering for Scotland’s people and economy with a very…
June
26
2023
Scotland and Europe still have a shared desire for student exchanges
Last week, Universities Scotland’s international team met with MEPs and universities in Edinburgh to discuss mobility options and other links in a post-Brexit world. Our colleagues, David Donaldson and Ela Kossakowska reflect on the visit. “Getting 27 nations to agree on anything can be difficult, so the fact they all agree on the importance of…
June
19
2023
Professor Iain Gillespie reinforces the links between education and innovation
Writing for Thunderer today, Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal of the University of Dundee has set out his views on the links between education and innovation. This follows the publication of the Scottish Government’s Innovation Strategy and independent review of the skills landscape. Last week the Scottish Government received two major reports that promise to shake-up…
Dundee Principal Professor Iain Gillespie elected Universities Scotland Convener
Universities Scotland, the representative organisation for Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions, is delighted to announce that Professor Iain Gillespie has been elected to the role of Convener for a period of two years, from 1 August 2023. Professor Gillespie is Principal & Vice Chancellor at the University of Dundee and was elected to the role…
June
13
2023
Key role of universities set out in the Scottish National Innovation Strategy
Universities Scotland welcome the publication of the Scottish National Innovation Strategy by the Scottish Government. The strategy has been co-produced with partners across our country and overseen by a Steering Group co-chaired between Scottish Ministers and Sir Jim McDonald, Principal of the University of Strathclyde. The Strategy recognises the key role of universities in making…