In response to the Ministerial Statement on Widening Access in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 March 2018, Alastair Sim, the Director of Universities Scotland said: Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions, the length and breadth of Scotland, large and specialist, are committed to widening access. Today’s statement from the Minister reiterated a lot of the…
Tag: Politics
Our contribution to Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry
Universities Scotland has responded to a call for evidence by the Scottish Affairs Committee. The inquiry, My Scottish Affairs, welcomed ideas and proposals from the public about what issues the Committee should look into over the course of the Parliament. Our submission identified three important themes: how to promote research and innovation through the UK Government and Scottish Government relationship; making…
Ministerial Statement on Widening Access
On Tuesday 31 May, the Scottish Parliament is due to hear a Ministerial Statement on Widening Access. As part of that statement, Universities Scotland has prepared a briefing for Members of the Scottish Parliament updating them on actions taken by higher education institutions since A Blueprint for Fairness was published last year. Read the briefing…
Education Select Committee inquiry: The impact of exiting the European Union on higher education
We have submitted evidence to the UK Parliament’s Education Select Committee inquiry on the impact of exiting the European Union on higher education. You can read or download our response to the inquiry here. Our response highlights many of the issues that have arisen due to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union following…
Scottish Affairs Committee inquiry into Scotland’s Place in Europe
Universities Scotland has given evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee’s inquiry into Scotland’s Place in Europe . Our submission emphasises the value that staff and students from the EU add to the quality of teaching, research and the student experience. We stress the urgent need for clarity on the immigration status for existing EU staff and…
Views on the Legislative Consent Memorandum on the HE & Research Bill
Certain provisions of the Higher Education and Research Bill at Westminister now require the consent of the Scottish Parliament following amendments. The Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee has sought views on the Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) prepared by the Scottish Government. The Committee is due to discuss the LCM at its meeting on 26…
Briefing for Scottish Government debate on Brexit impact on HE & FE, 4 October 2016
Tuesday, 4 October will see a Scottish Government debate in Holyrood on the Implications of the EU Referendum on Higher and Further Education. Universities Scotland has prepared a short briefing for MSPs on the issues as they affect higher education institutions. It also sets out our priorities as Scotland and the UK considers its negotiating position….
HE & Research Bill at Committee stage
Universities’ Scotland’s primary concern with the HE and Research Bill is to ensure that the new UK-wide structured proposed for research and innovation are required to act in the interests of the whole UK; have regard to the relevant policies of the devolved administrations; and have governance structures that reflect the interests of the whole UK. We…
Written evidence to Education & Skills Committee session 7 September 2016
Our Convener, Professor Andrea Nolan, is giving evidence to the Education and Skills Committee of the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 7 September as part of a session themed on further and higher education . We have submitted a short brief on the opportunities and challenges facing Scottish higher education in advance of this session. You…
Briefing for Second Reading of the HE and Research Bill, Westminster, 19 July 2016
The 2nd reading of the Higher Education and Research Bill takes place from 11.30 on Tuesday, 19 July led by Rt Hon Sajid Javid. You can find Universities Scotland’s brief for MPs here. The Bill directly affects Scottish HEIs in both their teaching and their research. We ask for the support of Scottish MPs throughout the passage of…