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…
Tag: Funding
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….
Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Public Accounts Committee inquiry
Universities Scotland responded to the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee inquiry on the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). In our submission reflected the importance UK-wide of the ISCF and the implications for its application in Scotland. In our submission we highlight: Communication issues surrounding submissions; Collaborations being heavily focused on corporations not SMEs; Scotland only…
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…
Students and universities urge Scottish Government to follow Wales on twin-track support package to get through COVID
Scotland’s student and university leaders have joined together to commend the Welsh Government on its twin-track approach to supporting higher education students and institutions through the COVID crisis. This comes on the day that the Welsh Government announces a new package of £40 million available to support students facing financial hardship. The Welsh Government has…
Inconclusive Spending Review makes January budget critical for Scottish HE
The UK Government Spending Review announced on Wednesday (25 November 2020) has made January’s Scottish Government budget a critical event for Scottish higher education. The Scottish block grant will increase by an additional £2.4bn in 2021/22 as a result of core and COVID-19 expenditure. Within UK Government spending priorities, an extra £400 million expenditure per…
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee’s inquiry into UK Industrial Strategy
Universities Scotland has responsed to a consultation by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee (BEIS) on the UK’s Industrial Strategy. The inquiry examines key Industrial Strategy issues such as priorities, deliverability and the Grand Challenge missions. The inquiry forms part of the Committee’s overall ‘super-inquiry’ into Post-Pandemic Economic Growth. Our submission highlights universities’ key role…
Update on the impact of COVID-19 on universities for the Education and Skills Committee
Ahead of the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead MSP, giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee on Wednesday 2 September 2020, Universities Scotland provided evidence to update the Committee on the impact of COVID-19 on the university sector. The evidence covers: the implications of the SQA examination…
Universities Scotland response to confirmation of funding from Scottish Government for additional 2020/21 entrants
Today [Friday 21 August], Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, confirmed that the Scottish Government will fund the additional 2020/21 entrants to university for the duration of their four/five year degree. The Minister also helpfully acknowledged that the Scottish Government’s decision to revert to teacher-awarded grades would have implications…