Legal and Regulatory Landscape

The Legal Framework

The University must comply with a significant and complex range of Scottish, UK and EU law, regulations and directives.

Familiar examples include:

• Data Protection Act (1998)
• Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004
• Equality Act 2010
• Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000

The Regulatory Framework

The University is also accountable to Scottish Ministers, Scottish Parliament and a wide range of statutory, regulatory, funding and professional authorities for its conduct and compliance with a range of regulations, standards and good practice for core teaching, research and administrative activities.

Examples include:

• The Auditor General for Scotland
• The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
• The Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
• The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
• Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR)
• The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC)
• The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in Scotland (QAA)
• Research Councils UK (RCUK)
• The Scottish Funding Council (SFC)
• The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO)
• The UK Borders Agency (UKBA)

Compliance builds public confidence and trust. It also demonstrates the University’s commitment to improve practice. Failure to do so may result in performance review, financial penalties, reputational damage or criminal prosecution.

The University’s governing body has a collective responsibility for ensuring effective compliance with legal and regulatory obligations through its governance framework.

The University institutes appropriate policies, processes and procedures to help staff understand our obligations and achieve compliance.