The Scottish Government and Universities Scotland have announced the launch of a new, joint process that will co-design a framework for a successful and sustainable future for Scotland's universities for the next 20 years.
Our Interim Senior Governor Gary McRae welcomed the move, saying: “This initiative recognises the importance of the contribution of the University sector to Scotland’s economy and its future in a fast changing world. It represents an essential and timely opportunity to take a strategic, evidence-based approach to securing the long-term resilience and competitiveness of the sector.
“The University of Aberdeen fully supports the urgency of this work and the commitment to co-design solutions that align with Scotland’s economic, social and innovation priorities.
“Many of the areas identified within the Framework - such as curriculum transformation, operational efficiency and income diversification - are central to our institutional strategy and already underway at Aberdeen. We look forward to contributing constructively to this process to ensure Scotland’s universities remain sustainable, impactful and able to deliver world-class education and research for the next generation.”
Professor Peter Edwards, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, added: “Universities are a significant asset for Scotland, however current funding levels don’t cover the cost of education for Scottish students or for research. We welcome news of the review and hope it marks the start of a plan for sustainable and fair funding for the higher education sector.”