We have responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee’s consultation on Managing Scotland’s Public Finances: A Strategic Approach. Key elements in our response are: Universities Scotland advocates for Scottish Government to invest capital funding in universities’ research and innovation activities which boost economic growth for the collective benefit of Scotland. The enabling funding Scottish Government…
Tag: Funding
University students from underrepresented backgrounds highlight importance of the access agenda and the need to achieve the 2030 access goals
Universities Scotland, which represents Scotland’s 19 universities and higher education institutions, has today (Monday, 15 April) unveiled a new campaign on widening access, called “40 Faces”. The campaign gives a platform for 40 non-traditional students and graduates to share their experience of university and set out their perspectives on what is key to achieving Scotland’s…
We need a serious conversation on HE funding
Departing Universities Scotland after 15 years, Director Alastair Sim suggests there should be a serious conversation on funding that shares our national values, focusing on socially just solutions and holds common ground between the sector and government. As I leave Universities Scotland after 15 years as Director, I don’t want to focus on the past….
Increased research funding for Scottish Universities
The Minister for Higher Education and Further Education Graeme Dey has announced an additional £5.8 million to support research and innovation in Scotland’s universities, to be spent in financial year 2023/24. We warmly welcome this funding boost, which will support universities to continue to thrive in their world-leading research and the wider economic impact this…
Scottish Government budget outcomes: tough choices for universities
The Scottish Government’s 2024/25 budget, published on 19 December has indicated there will be £28.5 million of cuts to the university teaching grant. This leaves universities with tough choices to be made as funding continues to erode within the sector. Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland: “The budget outcome for universities means there’s a need…
2024/25 Scottish budget: submission to the Education, Children and Young People’s Committee
We have submitted a brief on the Scottish budget for 2024/25 to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People’s Committee ahead of Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth’s appearance this week on the Scottish budget and post school reform. In our brief, we have highlighted the budgetary pressures the higher education sector…
Budget scrutiny: Submission to the Finance and Public Administration Committee
We have made a submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee ahead of their session tomorrow 9 January to scrutinise the 2024/25 budget, set out by the Scottish Government on 19 December. Our call to action is that additional funding might be found, during the passage of the budget bill, to reduce…
Universities Scotland respond to the Scottish Government’s budget for 2024/25
Universities Scotland has responded to the Scottish Government’s budget for financial year 2024/25 which was published on Tuesday 19th December. For higher education, the budget means: cash cuts of 5.9% to university resource budgets (or a cut of £48.5 million) which primarily covers the cost of teaching Scottish domiciled students.* a 4.7% increase to the…
A cheat’s guide to the Scottish Government’s budget and university funding
Susannah Lane, Head of Public Affairs has written a short blog detailing a guide on how universities in Scotland are funded and a breakdown of the Scottish Government budget, ahead of the budget for financial year 2024/25 on 19 December. Next week the Scottish Government will publish its budget for the financial year 2024/25. By…
Submission to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee on the sustainability of Scotland’s finances
We are delighted to submit to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee on their inquiry into the sustainability of Scotland’s finances. This is ahead of our Director, Alastair Sim’s appearance at the Committee. Our submission highlights the ways in which universities are a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in Scotland. We have…