Dr Kirsty Conlon, our Head of Learning and Teaching and Widening Access Policy shares her thoughts on what steps the soon to be announced Commissioner for Fair Access should be prioritising. A shorter version of this blog appeared on Wonkhe. Universities in Scotland are expecting an announcement on who will be the next Commissioner for…
Tag: Students
Sir Ian Wood: Major risk to the Scottish economy if funding for our university students continues to be reduced
We are delighted to have Sir Ian Wood, businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of JW Holdings Limited write for Universities Scotland about the importance of universities to the Scottish economy. This is a longer-version of a column Sir Ian wrote for The Times. As it is, our universities funding has followed real term decline since 2014/25 leaving…
Roundtable on student poverty
On Tuesday 11 October, we co-hosted a roundtable on student poverty with the National Union of Students Scotland and the Mental Health Foundation at one of our members, Glasgow Caledonian University. This roundtable was the result of a recommendation from the Mental Health Foundation’s Thriving Learners report to determine what additional support and changes in…
A student-centred approach to tackling contract cheating in higher education
Universities Scotland would like to see legislation to make the operation and advertisement of essay writing and other contract cheating services in Scotland illegal. These include essay mills and similar, as well as services aiming to sell university applications/personal statements, and even PhD theses.
Cost of Living (Protection of Tenants) (Scotland) Bill
In anticipation of the Cost of Living (Protection of Tenants) (Scotland) Bill being presented to the Scottish Parliament, we have published a briefing highlighting issues of interest to the higher education sector. Please note: this briefing was published prior to the Bill itself being published. You can read our submission here.
Colleges and Universities CPG: students and the cost of living crisis
On 28 September, the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Colleges and Universities met to discuss the cost of living crisis and its impact on students. MSPs and members of the CPG came together to discuss this very pressing issue and how we can help students through this crisis. The CPG had three speakers, Ellie…
Time to choose
Universities are one of Scotland’s greatest assets. They are anchor institutions for economic growth and transformation. They produce and promote both entrepreneurship and creativity. They have a proven record in widening access and winning recognition for pedagogical quality and the student experience. However, without sustained, prioritised and strategic investment, much of this is seriously at risk.
Universities Scotland’s submission to the Education, Children and Young People Committee
Universities Scotland have submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee ahead of University of Aberdeen’s Principal Professor George Boyne’s appearance to the committee on Wednesday 28 September 2022. Our submission details the support of the Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny of university funding and takes the opportunity to provide both written and…
Universities Scotland’s response to the National Student Survey consultation
Universities Scotland have submitted their response to the National Student Survey Consultation. We have highlighted our views on the proposed changes to the survey and whether these would be beneficial to students who will take the survey or should remain unchanged. You can read our full response here.
Universities welcome SQA exam results
Universities Scotland has welcomed the publication of SQA exam results across Scotland. Today, statistical data released by UCAS show that as of 9 August: 60.1% of Scottish students gained a place at their firm choice university, up from the pre-pandemic level of 57.5% in 2019. This is a new record. 29,630 students have accepted a…