Our Convener, Professor James Miller, Principal of
@uniwestscotland.bsky.social has written a blog for @hepi-news.bsky.social discussing the Future Framework and other aspects of higher education and the link between HE and the Scottish Parliament.
Read below⬇️
www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/03/11/s...
Our Vice-Convener Sir Paul Grice, Principal of @qmuniversity.bsky.social has written a blog for @hepi-news.bsky.social, discussing the importance of the upcoming Scottish election for higher education.
Read the full blog below⬇️
www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/03/10/s...
That should start in earnest so we can all hit the ground running on commencement of the Act. This brief, from stage one of the Bill, captures some of the biggest concerns we have with the current process.
www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/briefing-evi...
The Tertiary Education and Training Bill will become law, which means apprenticeship frameworks pass to @scotfundcouncil.bsky.social. That’s an opportunity to work with all involved – particularly employers – to redesign the process for signing-off on new apprenticeships.
Dr Kirsty Conlon gives her take on the need for the bureaucratic apprenticeship ‘framework’ process to be streamlined. Employers wanted this, when we met with them in Jan, chaired by the Minister. Kirsty’s blog summarises the views and issues at hand.
www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/gablog/
Graduate apprenticeships are great but there’s too much red tape for unis & employers to navigate. By apprenticeship week 2027, we hope Scotland has a streamlined process for new graduate apprenticeships.
It’s Scottish apprenticeship week & we are big fans of graduate apprenticeships in higher education. They are one models of earn-and-learn provision at university. BUT, more could be done to bring new graduate apprenticeships to market. #ScotAppWeek26
Scottish Labour leader @anassarwar.bsky.social supports the Future Framework for Universities, understanding the need for a successful and sustainable university sector.
Read more about the Framework on our website⬇️
universities-scotland.ac.uk/future-frame...
Some more reasons why MSPs and MPs are supporting the Future Framework⬇️
Last week we were at the #ScotLab26 conference where we spoke to MSPs, MPs and candidates about the Future Framework and why it is so important to look at successful and sustainable universities for the next 20 years.
Read more⬇️
universities-scotland.ac.uk/future-frame...
Recognition of the Future Framework is the first step. We need the next Scottish Government to help deliver it in detail and MSPs on their return to parliament to advocate for multiyear settlements to restore real-terms value to the sector.
Its publication is timely and adds additional weight to the research base as we begin the Future Framework process in earnest, including this week’s inaugural project team meeting on building a robust evidence base on how the sector is funded & identify the funding gap.
Universities are anchor institutions in their communities serving Scotland far beyond the immediate purpose of learning and teaching. They are drivers of the high-skills pipeline and the risk to financial sustainability highlighted in the report is a risk to Scotland’s workforce capacity.
This sobering SPICe report warns without structural reform to our higher education sector there is a long-term & irreversible decline in university capacity, economic impact, and global reputation.
digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBrie...
Universities Scotland Director Claire McPherson spoke to @wonkhe.bsky.social's Policy Radar on all things Future Framework and Scottish elections yesterday. Subscribers will have the recording in their inbox or you can find out more online: wonkhe.com/subscription...
Read more about the Future Framework and the Steering Group on our website⬇️
www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/steeringgroup/
Professor Andy Schofield, Principal of @glasgow.ac.uk discusses the need for future mapping as part of the Future Framework “We need to have a future mapped out for ourselves and how we can serve the people of Scotland better."
"We have to look, not only to the next 5 years, but the next 20 years so we can reassure ourselves that what is a very internationally respected and significant sector... not only carry on but thrive.” Prof Penny Macbeth details why the Framework must look at the next 20 years.
Our Director Claire McPherson shares her reason why the Future Framework is important for Scotland's universities - to secure an agile, adaptable and thriving university sector.
We're at the @scottories.bsky.social conference where MSPs are proudly supporting the Future Framework, helping ensure Scotland's universities remain sustainable and successful.
Read more⬇️
www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/future-frame...
#SSC26
With worse news: it projects a further 10% real terms cut to '29. The role of Future Framework for university sustainability will be key to addressing this. (2/2)
Important pre-election analysis today from
@fraserofallander.org:
Core Post-16 education funding cut by 15% in real terms over this Parliament, with 17% cuts to unis and 8% cut to colleges. (1/2)
fraserofallander.org/publications...
@unistrathclyde.bsky.social
Professor Ellen Hazelkorn outlines the need for sustainability for Scotland and our universities; “The issue for Scotland is sustainability. Scotland could be a leader in this. Lots of countries are looking at these same sets of issues."
"we do need to continue to invest in infrastructure, in technology and most importantly, in people – our greatest asset" @AlastairMacColl of @ThinkUHI discusses the importance of investment in unis to ensure they are able to thrive.
“The research that [unis] do can be at the cutting edge and can lead to key commercialisation opportunities, advances in medicine…is a key plank of what universities do.” Professor Mairi Spowage of @fraserofallander.org speaks about the importance of protecting research as part of the framework
🗣️Speaking about the future framework,
Sandy Begbie says; "...important that this review is carried out at pace but also ensures that our university sector is financially sustainable for the long term”, highlighting the need for the framework to deliver future success for unis
Andrea agreed to Co-Convene the Framework because: "...there is a great opportunity, one that we are keen to seize, to make recommendations so that the next Scottish Government has a ready-made set of options that will deliver sustainability and success for our universities."
"...we have commissioned this work to look creatively, innovatively and self-critically at how we deliver higher education in the future... make sure it is sustainable, and build on our success... " Minister @BenMacpherson speaking after the first the Future Framework meeting.
As Prof Nolan says, it's a "hugely impressive group of people" giving their time to the Framework: @MairiSpowage, @SFE_Sandy, Dave Whitehouse of @OEUK_ @saishraddhas25 Mary Senior of @UCUScotland & Alison Maclean of @unitetheunion & Prof Ellen Hazelkorn. shorturl.at/vws9c
From universities: @penny_macbeth Principal/Director of @GSofA, Prof Andy Schofield, Principal at @UofGlasgow & @AlastairMacCollChair of Court at @ThinkUHI represent the sector's diversity (small, specialist, ancient & tertiary unis).
