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…
News
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…
June
07
2023
Universities Scotland responds to the Withers review of skills landscape
Responding to Fit for the Future: developing a post-school learning system to fuel economic transformation, published by the Scottish Government on 7 June 2023, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: “This is a bold report that seeks to tackle long-term challenges in the skills landscape head-on and proposes a major shake-up of Scotland’s structural…
June
02
2023
More graduates in Scotland are reaching positive destinations
New figures released from the Graduate Outcomes Report for 2020/21 indicate that Scotland’s graduates are entering into more positive destinations than in previous years. According to the report published by HESA on 31 May, 92% of respondents had reached a positive destination within 15 months of graduation, which includes employment, further study, a mix of…
June
01
2023
Scottish universities delivery to UN goals highlighted in new world rankings
Universities Scotland has welcomed global rankings that demonstrate Scottish universities are at the forefront of the United Nations’ (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs) for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. A record ten universities from Scotland participated with four Scottish institutions featuring in the top 100. Four of Scotland’s universities: Glasgow (13), Strathclyde…