Professor Mark Parsons, Director of EPCC and Dean of Research Computing at the University of Edinburgh. EPCC, part of the University of Edinburgh, is the UK’s leading centre of Supercomputing and Data Science expertise has written an article on why the Supercomputer, hosted at the University of Edinburgh is important for UK research. As the…
Tag: Politics
Response to the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill, stage 1 general principles consultation
We have submitted a response to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee regarding regarding Stage 1 general principles consultation on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill. The Bill looks to introduces a new tax, called the Scottish Building Safety Levy, to be charged on the construction or conversion of residential property developments, with…
Prosper puts universities at the heart of policy recommendations underpinning growth in turbulent times
Universities are a key part of Scotland’s growth plan for turbulent times Prosper, Scotland’s membership organisation for all sectors and all industries, has today (25 June) published a new policy blueprint focused on unlocking growth in turbulent times. Framed within three national priorities of achieving a stronger economy, a Scotland where we get things done…
UK Government immigration white paper; impact on Scotland’s universities
Following the publication of the UK Government’s immigration white paper, we have responded detailing the affects of today’s announcement on Scotland’s universities. UPDATE: Since publication of the Immigration White Paper on 12 May, the Scotland Office has confirmed that a decision on the applicability of the levy is to be devolved to the Scottish Government….
Education (Scotland) Bill briefing to MSPs
We have written a briefing for MSPs regarding the Education (Scotland) Bill, which sets out our position and cause for concern on proposed amendments at stage two of the Bill. The Education (Scotland) Bill looks to establish a new body called Qualifications Scotland. It also looks to create a new office His Majesty’s Chief Inspector…
Youth mobility and UK-EU trade and Cooperation Agreement: submission to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Ahead of giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee on Thursday 30 January, we have made a written submission to the Committee. The session will look at UK-EU trade and Cooperation Agreement, with a focus on youth mobility. In our submission, we highlight the various youth mobility options within…
AI opportunities action plan: responding to the UK Government launch
The UK Government has today launched its AI opportunities action plan following the commission of the Clifford Review. The Government has accepted all 50 recommendations from the Review. Responding to the UK Government’s announcement of the AI Opportunities Action Plan on Monday 13 January, Claire McPherson, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Scottish universities are at the…
UK Government Industrial Strategy consultation response
We have responded to the UK Government’s consultation on Invest 2035: the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy following the publication of its green paper in October. We developed a response to 13 of the 35 consultation questions in partnership with our Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee. Scotland’s universities are eager to work with UK Government to…
Universities revise budget bid to Scottish Government upwards as there is no scope to absorb increased costs
We have taken the unprecedented step of increasing our 2025/26 budget ask of the Scottish Government. Since we submitted this in September, there have been two significant changes in our funding environment. Firstly, the announcement in the UK Government’s autumn budget that there would be an increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (ENIC) 2025/26. We have…
Scotland’s universities still have another budget to contend with
With the UK Government’s budget now delivered, November sees a frenzied month of activity for the Scottish Government as it crunches numbers ahead of its own budget for 2025/26, to be announced on 4 December, writes Universities Scotland Director Claire McPherson. Spare a thought for Scotland’s universities, facing the prospect of all that pre-budget speculation…