This document offers a brief summary of the detailed efficiencies action plan which has been developed by senior university leaders from across the sector. Read the progress report This document offers a brief summary of the detailed efficiencies action plan which has been developed by senior university leaders from across the sector. Read the progress report

Graduates from Scotland's universities are showing resilience in the jobs market despite real challenges facing all young people.Download briefing Graduates from Scotland's universities are showing resilience in the jobs market despite real challenges facing all young people. Download briefing

In 2010/11 the total income of Scotland's then 20 higher education institutions amounted to £2.86 billion.Download facts and figures In 2010/11 the total income of Scotland's then 20 higher education institutions amounted to £2.86 billion.Download facts and figures

Higher education is a term used to describe post-school education of a certain intellectual standard that contains elements of theoretical, abstract and conceptual knowledge and is taught in an environment which also includes advanced research activity.Download briefing Higher education is a term used to describe post-school education of a certain intellectual standard that contains elements of theoretical, abstract and conceptual knowledge and is taught in an environment which also includes advanced research activity.Download briefing

Universities Scotland today (Monday 2 April) welcomes Professor Bob Webb to his new role as Principal of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).Universities Scotland's Director, Alastair Sim said:"I look forward to working with Professor Webb over the coming weeks and months as Universities Scotland continues to pursue key priorities for the sector. Professor Webb joins at what is an exciting time for the SAC and I wish his predecessor Professor Bill McKelvey all the very best for the future." Universities Scotland today (Monday 2 April) welcomes Professor Bob Webb to his new role as Principal of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC).Universities Scotland's Director, Alastair Sim said:"I look forward to working with Professor Webb over the coming weeks and months as Universities Scotland continues to pursue key priorities for the sector. Professor Webb joins at what is an exciting time for the SAC and I wish his predecessor Professor Bill McKelvey all the very best for the future."Professor Webb joins SAC from the University of Nottingham where he was a Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Before becoming Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof Webb was head of the university's School of Biosciences then Dean of the Faculty of Science. You can read more about Professor Webb and his appointment here: http://www.sac.ac.uk/news/currentnews/12n06newchiefexec.

Universities in Scotland made greater progress in the last year on widening access measures than anywhere else in the UK.Universities Scotland responded to today's (Thursday, 29th March) performance indicators for universities as published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) welcoming steady progress in the right direction.The statistics released today show the proportion of students studying at university from state schools and from poorer backgrounds (measured by the lowest four socio-economic classes NS-SEC 4,5,6 and 7). On both measures, Scottish universities have made the most significant progress of anywhere in the UK, compared to last year:Scottish universities have increased the number of students from state schools by 1.5 per cent to 88.3 per cent (compared to 86.8% in 2009/10). The UK average decreased by 0.1%. Universities in Scotland admitted a higher proportion of entrants from state schools than universities in England (88.3 per cent compared to 88.2 per cent).Scottish universities have also increased the proportion of entrants from the poorest backgrounds by 1.4 per cent compared to last year. The average UK increase was 0.6 per cent.Commenting on the figures released today, Simon Jennings, Deputy Director at Universities Scotland, said:"Universities are committed to widening access and today's welcome figures show steady progress. It's particularly encouraging that universities in Scotland have shown a greater rate of improvement over the last twelve months than anywhere else in the UK.""Universities will not rest on these results. We will be striving to achieve more over the coming years as every university enters into an outcome agreement on access with the Scottish Funding Council."You can read the full Universities Scotland press release, including all notes, here. Universities in Scotland made greater progress in the last year on widening access measures than anywhere else in the UK.Universities Scotland responded to today's (Thursday, 29th March) performance indicators for universities as published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) welcoming steady progress in the right direction.The statistics released today show the proportion of students studying at university from state schools and from poorer backgrounds (measured by the lowest four socio-economic classes NS-SEC 4,5,6 and 7). On both measures, Scottish universities have made the most significant progress of anywhere in the UK, compared to last year:Scottish universities have increased the number of students from state schools by 1.5 per cent to 88.3 per cent (compared to 86.8% in 2009/10). The UK average decreased by 0.1%. Universities in Scotland admitted a higher proportion of entrants from state schools than universities in England (88.3 per cent compared to 88.2 per cent).Scottish universities have also increased the proportion of entrants from the poorest backgrounds by 1.4 per cent compared to last year. The average UK increase was 0.6 per cent.Commenting on the figures released today, Simon Jennings, Deputy Director at Universities Scotland, said:"Universities are committed to widening access and today's welcome figures show steady progress. It's particularly encouraging that universities in Scotland have shown a greater rate of improvement over the last twelve months than anywhere else in the UK.""Universities will not rest on these results. We will be striving to achieve more over the coming years as every university enters into an outcome agreement on access with the Scottish Funding Council."Widening access to university is a complex challenge and real progress will come from a strategic and coordinated effort right across Scotland's education system including schools and universities. The link between poverty and under-achievement starts early in a child's education. This was reinforced by the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy, which was published only two days ago and showed that in S2, children from the wealthiest backgrounds were performing twice as well as children from the poorest backgrounds.Commenting on the need to take a long-term and systemic approach to widening access at university, Simon Jennings comments:"Widening access to university is a complex and long-term challenge but there is a strong negative correlation between deprivation and attainment from the early years of a child's life. There's much that universities can do to play their part, including their existing engagement with primary and secondary schools, but the greatest progress will come from interventions in the early years of a child's life and many, many years before they start considering university."You can read the full Universities Scotland press release, including all notes, here.

Universities Scotland's summary response to the Scottish Government's consultation on post-16 reform. Read the summary response Universities Scotland's summary response to the Scottish Government's consultation on post-16 reform. Read the summary response

Universities Scotland welcomed Mr Russell's announcement this afternoon on aspects of his post-16 reform agenda.Responding to the statement Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said:"We share the fundamental belief that the learner should be the focus of and reason for any and all necessary change in Scotland's post-16 education. Universities also share the Scottish Government's broad ambitions to do more to widen access to learners of all backgrounds, to see more collaboration between all parts of the system and that the journey through education should be smooth and seamless for learners. "We have been keen to work with Government to translate these ambitions into practical policies that will deliver results and produce a greater range of options for learners. It's clear that the Government has taken consultation responses on board and wants to work with universities as partners going ahead. We very much welcome this collaborative approach going ahead."  Universities Scotland welcomed Mr Russell's announcement this afternoon on aspects of his post-16 reform agenda.Responding to the statement Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said:"We share the fundamental belief that the learner should be the focus of and reason for any and all necessary change in Scotland's post-16 education. Universities also share the Scottish Government's broad ambitions to do more to widen access to learners of all backgrounds, to see more collaboration between all parts of the system and that the journey through education should be smooth and seamless for learners. "We have been keen to work with Government to translate these ambitions into practical policies that will deliver results and produce a greater range of options for learners. It's clear that the Government has taken consultation responses on board and wants to work with universities as partners going ahead. We very much welcome this collaborative approach going ahead."In regards to widening access, the Cabinet Secretary's statement announced plans to move toward legislation to support access agreements currently being developed between the SFC and universities. Commenting on this proposal, Alastair Sim, said:"Widening access to university is a complex and long-term challenge as the main factor is the need to raise attainment much earlier in a young person's education. However, universities are committed to playing their role in this to the fullest. Universities will engage closely with the Funding Council to ensure that the right action is being taken to promote wide access."Today's announcement also referred to the establishment of a working group with Universities Scotland, the SFC and business to work together to develop proposals on how best to increase knowledge exchange between universities and business, helping to driving Scotland's economic growth. Commenting on this announcement, Alastair Sim said:"We are very supportive of the drive to increase interactions between universities and business as part of universities' significant economic contribution to Scotland. This builds on universities' existing success in making knowledge exchange with business a core activity. Scotland's universities are ahead of the game on knowledge transfer with many innovative ideas to simplify access already in place but we are ambitious to stay ahead. We're very happy to sit down with business and the SFC, in the shape of a working group as announced today, to give careful consideration to how this can best be achieved."Commenting on plans for financial support for students, Alastair Sim said:"Universities welcome today's announcements on student support, particularly plans to offer more for part-time learners and a minimum income for full-time students."

Responding to the publication of the review into university governance earlier today (Wednesday 1 February), Professor Seamus McDaid, Convener of Universities Scotland, said:"We welcome the affirmation this report gives to the importance of university autonomy. It is reassuring that all members of the review panel attach as much significance to the continuation of autonomous universities in Scotland as principals."We continue to be committed to a model of university governance that is robust, accountable, inclusive and transparent. We also believe in a strong role for students, staff and other stakeholders in the running of our universities."We have been open to this review from the outset because we believe our governance arrangements should be subject to the same continuous improvement that we strive for in our teaching and research. However, it is important to remember our starting point; Scotland's universities are a high-performing sector, with high levels of student satisfaction and better research performance than can be found in most other countries. This success is, in large part, a product of current governance arrangements." Responding to the publication of the review into university governance earlier today (Wednesday 1 February), Professor Seamus McDaid, Convener of Universities Scotland, said:"We welcome the affirmation this report gives to the importance of university autonomy. It is reassuring that all members of the review panel attach as much significance to the continuation of autonomous universities in Scotland as principals."We continue to be committed to a model of university governance that is robust, accountable, inclusive and transparent. We also believe in a strong role for students, staff and other stakeholders in the running of our universities. [1]"We have been open to this review from the outset because we believe our governance arrangements should be subject to the same continuous improvement that we strive for in our teaching and research. However, it is important to remember our starting point; Scotland's universities are a high-performing sector, with high levels of student satisfaction and better research performance than can be found in most other countries. This success is, in large part, a product of current governance arrangements."In responding constructively to the call for evidence, Universities Scotland's submission made fifteen recommendations as to how university governance could be further strengthened, many of which looked to embed examples of good practice across the whole sector. A number of these recommendations appear in the report. Commenting on this, Professor McDaid said:"We're pleased to see some of our own suggestions reflected in the report including the development of a Scottish code of governance which can embed existing best practice across the sector. We also welcome the recommendation that all university court members should be fully supported in their role and that the availability of training be formalised." Other recommendations in the report are more complex and come with significant practical or legal implications for both universities and Government. In making his statement to Parliament, Mr Russell was clear that he would continue to consult with universities. This approach was welcomed by Professor McDaid:"With over 40 separate recommendations in the report, some of them very complex, it's important that universities now have the chance to consider them properly and to discuss the principles and practicalities in more detail with Government, with their courts and with staff, students and other stakeholders. "Mr Russell has given a personal commitment to consider all proposals in consultation with the sector and we look forward to further conversations with him." A number of more radical and far-reaching recommendations in the report have not been subject to prior exploration or consultation beyond members of the review panel. These include the possible election of Chairs of governing bodies and the proposal to remunerate Chairs.Addressing these specific proposals, Professor McDaid said:"The Review itself recognises that a lot of the issues raised could not be addressed fully in the time available. A number of recommendations, including the election of Chairs and composition of governing bodies raise significant challenges and are only partially-developed. We feel today's report should mark a starting point for more detailed discussion rather than be viewed as an off-the-shelf prescription for change. "The Panel itself was unable to reach a unanimous view on a number of these recommendations as Mr Simpson, an experienced university Chair, makes clear in his dissenting opinion. We believe Mr Simpson sets out a number of important arguments which should receive serious consideration in order to ensure that we find a way forward which genuinely strengthens responsible and autonomous governance and sustains universities' contribution to Scotland's success."Reflecting on review's recommendations and the challenging role of twenty-first century university governance, Professor Sir Tim O'Shea, Vice Convener of Universities Scotland, said:"The role of a university has certainly evolved. The common good has always been at the core of our purpose and our system of governance must protect that. But governance also means the responsibility to meet a growing number of challenges and expectations from Government, including tough targets on efficiency and income generation. Both roles are equally important but they can sometimes be difficult to reconcile; this is the challenge for our evolving model of governance. As some of the report's recommendations are developed in more detail, the real test will be to ensure that universities remain effective on both counts."The review into university governance was announced by Mr Russell in June 2011. Professor von Prondzynski, Principal at Robert Gordon University, led a five-person review panel which also comprised Robin Parker, President of NUS Scotland, Iain McWhirter, the-then Rector of the University of Edinburgh, Terry Brotherstone of the University and College Union Scotland who was nominated by Scotland's Trade Union Congress and Alan Simpson, Chair at the University of Stirling and Chair of the Scottish Chairs.NotesElected and/or appointed staff and students make up around 30 per cent of the membership of university governing bodies in Scotland. This figure is based on an analysis of the governing bodies of 14 universities and three small, specialist institutes in Scotland at the time of our submission to the review of governance. UHI was excluded from the analysis because of its unique partnership model as was SAC because of its corporate board structure.The review into university governance can be found on the Scottish Government's website here.The letter of dissenting opinion from Mr Simpson, Chair of Scottish Chairs, is also published by the Scottish Government, alongside the report and can be found here. 

Responding to today's UCAS figures which show the rate of applicants by the 15 January deadline, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: "Last year around five per cent of English applicants applied to university in Scotland. What's really interesting from today's figures is that whilst the overall number of English applicants is down, Scotland's share of those applicants has actually held steady and is the same as last year. Universities in England have seen a sharper drop in English applicants than Scottish universities. We're pleased that students across the UK and overseas continue to recognise the high quality of education on offer in Scotland." Responding to today's UCAS figures which show the rate of applicants by the 15 January deadline, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: "Last year around five per cent of English applicants applied to university in Scotland. What's really interesting from today's figures is that whilst the overall number of English applicants is down, Scotland's share of those applicants has actually held steady and is the same as last year. Universities in England have seen a sharper drop in English applicants than Scottish universities. We're pleased that students across the UK and overseas continue to recognise the high quality of education on offer in Scotland."Notes:The proportion of all English applicants applying to Scotland was 5.5% this year compared to 5.3% last year.In line with an expected demographic dip in the number of school leavers, the total number of English applicants fell from 494,479 in 2011 to 446,363 in 2012.The UCAS figures show a -9.8% drop in English applicants to universities in England compared to a -5.6% drop in English applicants to universities in Scotland. Table 4f.There was 24.7 per cent increase in international (non-EU) students to Scottish universities.The increase in EU applicants to Scotland is 6.0% which is lower than anticipated and lower than last year (8.3%)The UCAS statistics can be found in full at the link below. Table 4f is most relevant to cross-border applications: http://www.ucas.com/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2012/20120130