A new report has detailed the critical social and economic contribution universities are expected to make to Scotland’s recovery over the next five years. The report, Getting Results for Scotland, based on analysis by the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) and published by Universities Scotland, highlights examples of how universities in Scotland are…
Tag: COVID-19
Time to lift COVID restrictions on research
Scotland’s 19 universities are asking that the Scottish Government address an anomaly in the route-map out of COVID restrictions, which means that academics doing research in laboratories must still work at two metres distance from each other, in stark contrast to most other sectors of the economy which have been operating at one metre or…
University leaders call for urgent clarity on plans for next academic year as new data shows high levels of student anxiety and fears about progression
The Principals of Scotland’s universities have called on the Scottish Government to provide clarity within the next fortnight on the arrangements for in-person teaching when the next academic year starts. The call comes as new polling data of over 500 students at Scotland’s universities shows that: 73 per cent feel the restrictions on in-person learning…
Universities welcome show of strength in new world rankings
Universities Scotland has welcomed new global rankings which rates the sector in Scotland as one of the best in the world. The global rankings demonstrate Scotland’s strength in research with many universities bettering their scores from last year. The QS World University Rankings 2022, which evaluates over 1300 universities worldwide, sees six Scottish universities improve…
Universities Scotland briefing for Scottish Government debate: Economic Recovery
Ahead of a debate in the Scottish Parliament on economic recovery (Wednesday 2 June 2021), Universities Scotland provided a brief to MSPs outlining universities’ contribution to the nation’s recovery from the pandemic. In the brief we refer to a report by the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) which states that over the next…
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…
Universities Scotland manifesto ‘asks’ for 2021 Scottish Parliament election
Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on 6 May 2021, Universities Scotland has prepared a briefing outlining the higher education policies we’re seeking support for in political parties’ manifestos and from the next Scottish Government. Our five key asks are: Increase the amount invested in teaching and wider student support for each Scottish domiciled undergraduate…
Universities Scotland response to SFC publication of additional and indicative funding allocations
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Funding Council’s additional funding allocations for 2020/21 and indicative allocations for 2021/22, Universities Scotland Director Alastair Sim said: “Universities welcome the increased resources allocated today by the Scottish Funding Council. The additional funding for 2020/21 is recognition of the work universities have done to support students through the pandemic….
Universities Scotland response to Scottish Government announcement of additional COVID funding
Responding to the announcement of additional funding from the Scottish Government to support colleges and universities during the pandemic, Universities Scotland Director Alastair Sim said: “The Scottish Government’s announcement of an additional £60 million one-off COVID consequential funding for universities and colleges is very welcome. The sector has faced a series of acute financial challenges…
Maintaining fair assessment for university students in academic year 2020/21
Scotland’s higher education institutions have offered reassurance to all students that fairness will continue to be a defining feature of assessment processes in 2020/21. A new statement by all 19 universities reaffirms their commitment to ensuring that student assessment, and the processes that lead to progression and graduation, are underpinned by the fundamental principles of…