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Photo: University of Edinburgh
Five additional university-led projects have secured support through the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) University Transformation Framework (UTF). £18.8 million has been awarded to initiatives designed to strengthen skills provision, drive collaboration and support the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s tertiary education sector.
The second tranche of UTF funding builds on the £11.9 million already allocated through the first round of awards and supports projects that align learning and teaching more closely with employer needs, future skills demands and Scotland’s economic priorities. The latest awards bring total UTF commitments to more than £30 million and continue the programme’s focus on supporting transformational change across Scotland’s universities.
The University of Aberdeen, in partnership with SRUC and regional stakeholders, will lead Flexible Futures in Food, Drink and Agriculture, creating employer-informed learning pathways from school through to graduate level.
Heriot-Watt University and the University of Stirling have joined forces on ASPIRE, a collaborative project involving the University of the Highlands and Islands. The initiative will create employer-led learning routes in energy transition, advanced manufacturing, health, environment, and digital.
Robert Gordon University will expand its work-integrated learning model, strengthening links between education and employment while creating more flexible routes into higher education and lifelong learning.
SRUC’s Skills and Innovation in the Blue and Green Economy will establish a digital learning platform and accredited provision focused on specialist sectors, including marine science, supported by AI-enabled learner services.
Meanwhile, the University of the West of Scotland will take forward a programme, in collaboration with partner colleges, designed to create a more integrated tertiary education model through shared facilities, services and curriculum development.
Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education Alyn Smith said:
“This is what the future looks like. These inspirational projects are what the UTF is all about – putting our university sector at the forefront of innovation, to deliver transformational change and financial sustainability for the future.
“Our world-class universities make a crucial contribution to Scotland’s workforce and economy. It’s vital that we continue to work on aligning the skills they teach to meet employer needs.
“I’m encouraged to see work being done across a breadth of industries, from agriculture to energy transition, while also harnessing the latest technology including AI to make a real and lasting impact.”
Helen Cross, SFC Director of Investment and Research, said:
“These projects demonstrate the sector’s commitment to finding innovative and collaborative ways to respond to current challenges while building a stronger future.
“A common theme across the proposals is closer partnership working between universities, colleges, employers and regional stakeholders to create more flexible pathways for learners and deliver the skills Scotland needs.”
