Tag: Employability, enterprise and entrepreneurship

Response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on post-school education, research and skills: interim purpose and principles

We have welcomed the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s post-school education, research and skills: interim purpose and principles exercise. We have engaged with the Scottish Government during the consultation phase, which closed on 24 March 2023, culminating in our formal response to their draft.

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Time to lose the labels

Words are so important: they can motivate, inspire and explain. Yet words can also build barriers. In our latest blog, Claudia Cavalluzzo, Executive Director of Converge, argues that the label ‘entrepreneur’ is one such barrier and that it’s time for an update. Every government – including Scotland – wants more entrepreneurs in their economy. They…

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Universities role in economic transformation celebrated in Scottish Parliament

The contribution of universities to the economic transformation of Scotland was celebrated by MSPs in the Scottish Parliament on 31 January 2023 as we held our annual Parliamentary reception. MSPs, universities, stakeholders and friends of the higher educatiton sector gathered to hear about the sector’s strong culture of delivery which aligns closely with the Scottish Government’s…

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Cuts to international student numbers should be resisted

Commenting on speculation that the UK Government may look to cut international student numbers, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Any attempts to cut international student numbers at Scottish universities would be damaging to universities and the Scottish economy. Every year more than 65,000 students from more than 180 countries study in Scotland. This…

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Sir Ian Wood: Major risk to the Scottish economy if funding for our university students continues to be reduced

We are delighted to have Sir Ian Wood, businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of JW Holdings Limited write for Universities Scotland about the importance of universities to the Scottish economy. This is a longer-version of a column Sir Ian wrote for The Times. As it is, our universities funding has followed real term decline since 2014/25 leaving…

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Principals warn of need for sector funding

Two Principals of Scottish universities have spoken to the latest edition of Holyrood about the need for funding for research. Scotland’s universities provide world-leading research and have some of the best universities in the word that attracts many people to Scotland to study. However, there is the significant challenge of keeping these world class researchers and…

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Universities Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government’s Innovation Strategy consultation

Universities Scotland has responded to the Scottish Government’s Innovation Strategy consultation. This consultation will allow for a successful innovation strategy by building upon the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. In our submission, we highlighted the importance of the research done by universities and how this leads to innovation. We have also conveyed how graduates are…

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Creative Sparks: Scientific and creative minds working together is vital to our future

The #CreativeSparks phase of MadeAtUni showcases the contribution of UK universities to the nation’s creative industries and future economic success. We’ve spoken to Principals about the far-reaching benefits of the creative and performing arts. Professor Iain Gillespie, Principal of the University of Dundee, was the last Principal we spoke to and we asked him how STEM benefits…

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Creative Sparks: Arts and humanities provide a fantastic grounding in valuable skills

The #CreativeSparks phase of MadeAtUni showcases the contribution of UK universities to the nation’s creative industries and future economic success. We’ve spoken to Principals about the far-reaching benefits of the creative and performing arts. We asked Susan Stewart, Director of the Open University in Scotland, about the skills and attributes that a degree in the creative arts…

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Education, Children and Young People Committee to inform pre-2022/23 Budget Scrutiny

The Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee each year undertakes pre-Budget scrutiny in its area. We have provided a briefing for members of the committee which summarises our full Spending Review case. Our summary provides the context for our budget ask as well as issues we wish the Scottish Government should prioritise in…

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