Following the decision of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) to demit its status as a Designated Quality Body in England, Universities Scotland have commented: “Scotland’s quality arrangements for higher education have been different to the rest of the UK for close to twenty years, whilst operating within a broader UK system. We greatly value our…
Tag: Trust
Our response to Sir Peter Scott’s Final Report as Commissioner for Fair Access
Responding to the final report from the Commission for Fair Access, Sir Peter Scott, Director of Universities Scotland, Alastair Sim said: “Scotland’s universities have achieved a lot when it comes to widening access in recent years. As a sector, we have introduced the most progressive admissions policies for students in the UK and have reached…
Universities Scotland submission to Education, Children and Young People Committee on spiking incidents
Universities Scotland has submitted evidence to an inquiry by the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee on incidents of drink and needle spiking. The inquiry follows recent media reports of a rise in the incidents of spiking and a new threat of spiking by needle. Our submission looks at the prevalence of spiking…
Universities Scotland comment on plans for blended learning in January 2022
Commenting on universities’ preparations for the new semester starting in January 2022, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said: “Universities have been working at level zero since September, which is a whole level more cautious than required of other sectors. In response to omicron, we’ve stepped up that level of caution again in the last…
Mental health and wellbeing is a top priority in the new academic year, say Principals and Student Union Presidents
The Principals and Student Union Presidents of Scotland’s 19 universities have issued an open letter to students assuring them that mental health and wellbeing is a top priority in the new academic year. The letter sets out to raise the visibility of general opportunities for wellbeing and preventative measures as well as more focused mental…
Universities Scotland responds to SFC’s Coherence and Sustainability Review
Universities Scotland has welcomed the publication of Coherence and Sustainability: A review of Tertiary Education and Research by the sector’s funding body, the Scottish Funding Council. The report makes a number of recommendations for the Scottish Government to consider. The report was commissioned by the Scottish Government in June 2020 with Universities Scotland responding to…
New report demonstrates roles of universities in supporting Scotland’s recovery
A new report has detailed the critical social and economic contribution universities are expected to make to Scotland’s recovery over the next five years. The report, Getting Results for Scotland, based on analysis by the National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education (NCEE) and published by Universities Scotland, highlights examples of how universities in Scotland are…
Universities Scotland responds to postponed return of students
Responding to the announcement from the Scottish Government on the return of students to university, a spokesperson for Universities Scotland said: “In light of the high prevalence of the virus across the country, it is appropriate that there should be an increased staggering of the return of students to campus. We look forward to receiving…
Universities Scotland response to UUK’s Fair Admissions Review
Responding to Universities UK’s Fair Admissions Review recommendations, which aim to make university admissions fairer and more transparent, Universities Scotland Director Alastair Sim said: “Moves to make the university admissions process fairer, more consistent and transparent at UK level are most welcome. The next stage of consultation is crucially important: the devolved nations must be…