Universities Scotland has responded to a consultation by the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee on the UK Internal Market Bill. The Committee is scrutinising the Bill to determine its impact on the Devolution Settlement and how the Internal Market will operate in practice. Given the remit of our organisation, we limit our response to…
Tag: Politics
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 comment on Ministerial Statement: SQA Exam Results 2020
Commenting on today’s Ministerial Statement from the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Universities Scotland Convener Gerry McCormac said: “Universities will do everything possible to ensure that all those who can benefit from higher education have the opportunity to attend university. They will look at the circumstances of each applicant who…
Staff, students and university leaders join together ahead of Scottish Budget
Universities Scotland, UCU Scotland and NUS Scotland have today (30 January 2020) written an open letter to the Deputy First Minister ahead of the Scottish Budget on 6 February to highlight the considerable challenge facing university funding as evidenced by three separate and independent reports to emerge over the last year. Over the last twelve…
Universities Scotland manifesto ‘asks’ for the 2019 General Election
Ahead of the UK General Election on 12 December 2019, Universities Scotland has prepared a briefing which outlines the higher education policies we’re seeking support for in political parties’ manifestos and from the next government. The short briefing should be considered as a companion to Universities UK’s manifesto briefing. Our ‘asks’ have been divided into…
Universities Scotland respond to Local Government and Communities Committee’s call for views on Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill
Universities Scotland have responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities call for views on the proposed Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill that the committee is currently considering. Read our response to the committee here.
A Vision for Scotland’s universities in 2030
Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, takes the long view and sets out our ambition for Scotland’s higher education sector in 2030: Graduation season is the perfect time to launch our Vision for Scottish higher education in 2030 because graduations represent a springboard into the future and a time full of optimism and energy. That’s…
Submission to Funding of EU Structural Fund Priorities in Scotland, post-Brexit
Universities Scotland have submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Constitution Committee’s inquiry into the Funding of EU Structural Fund Priorities in Scotland, post-Brexit. Structural funds from the European Union have been important for universities in Scotland. After Brexit, there will be a need to replace structural funds. The UK Government is due to…
Universities Scotland comment on the Scottish Government draft budget for 2019-20
Universities Scotland has responded to today’s draft budget announcement for 2019-20 from the Scottish Government. The settlement means a real terms cut for university funding, relative to 2018-19. Professor Andrea Nolan, Convener of Universities Scotland, said: “It’s very difficult to learn that funding for universities is going to drop in real terms by 1.79 per…
Higher and further education sectors’ joint statement on Brexit
Colleges, universities, trade unions and the Scottish Government have signed a joint letter which sets out how they will work together to protect higher and further education from the negative impact of Brexit. The statement – signed by Universities Scotland, Colleges Scotland, the UCU, Unison, the EIS, NUS Scotland, The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish…