We were given the opportunity to provide evidence to the Education, Children and Young People Committee on their inquiry into Erasmus+ and the replacement schemes in place across the UK. In our evidence we highlight: Scotland’s students, staff and universities would benefit significantly from the introduction of a two-way mobility scheme in Scotland, that would complement…
Tag: Brexit
Horizon membership: a deal that works for Scotland, the UK and EU
Professor Iain Gillespie is the Convener of our Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and Principal at the University of Dundee. In an opinion piece for The Herald which ran in its Monday 17 April 2023 edition, he outlines why it’s imperative a deal to secure Horizon membership for the UK is vital. Last month week…
Government must ensure universities receive research funding
Universities Scotland have welcomed a UK Government announcement for additional funding to support the international collaborations and competitiveness of UK research, as a result of delays to the UK’s association to the Horizon Europe programme. This funding can directly support research and wider economic growth in Scotland if the extra funding is ring-fenced for research…
What’s in the manifestos for higher education?
Boab Thomson is a Public Affairs & Communications Executive at Universities Scotland. After the publication of the party manifestos ahead of May’s 2021 Scottish Parliament elections, Boab looks at what each party has to say about higher education and what that might mean for the sector in the next session of Parliament. Without stating the…
Briefing ahead of Ministerial Statement: An Update on the Impact of EU Exit on Scotland’s Further and Higher Education Sectors
On 29 October 2020, the Scottish Parliament heard from the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead MSP about the impact of Brexit on the further and higher education sectors. To help inform MSPs in their questioning of the Minister after the statement, we prepared a briefing focusing on the two main…
Universities Scotland submission to Finance and Constitution Committee inquiry into UK Internal Market Bill
Universities Scotland has responded to a consultation by the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee on the UK Internal Market Bill. The Committee is scrutinising the Bill to determine its impact on the Devolution Settlement and how the Internal Market will operate in practice. Given the remit of our organisation, we limit our response to…
Universities Scotland responds to Minister Lochhead’s statement on Further and Higher Education Sustainability Plan
The Minister for Further and Higher education, Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, made a statement to Holyrood this afternoon (Thursday 9 July 2020) to accompany the publication of the Scottish Government’s new Coronavirus Further and Higher Education Sustainability Plan. The Plan confirms the Scottish Government’s decision on the fee status of EEA undergraduate students starting universities…
Universities Scotland comments on new points-based immigration system
Following the publication of a proposed new points-based immigration system by the Home Office, the Director of Universities Scotland, Alastair Sim said: “Since the EU referendum, universities in Scotland have been clear that we need an immigration system that recognises the importance of higher education and the value that our sector places on being able…
University leaders and staff and student unions issue joint statement to EU nationals
Universities Scotland, UCU Scotland and NUS Scotland have today (29 January 2020) signed an open letter to EU staff and students in Scotland to assure them that universities will remain open and welcoming to people and ideas from all around the world as the UK prepares to leave the EU. The letter, signed by the…
Scots back immigration policies that will help universities thrive, new poll shows
The overwhelming majority of Scottish people support immigration policies that will help universities to thrive according to new polling which Universities Scotland hope will influence the thinking of the next UK government. The next term of the UK Parliament will consider changes to the immigration system as suggested by the Migration Advisory Committee who are…