“Mhairi, David and Lesley contribute an enormous amount of knowledge, experience and energy to our Board and I am delighted they will be serving for a further four years.“Looking ahead to the important work SFC has in implementing our Review of Tertiary Education and Research, and also at the challenges we face following COVID-19 and Brexit, it is important we continue to have people of their talent and commitment on our board.”
“I’ve made everything that I need to qualify for the Olympics,” explained Guest, keen to enjoy home comforts after three months on the road. “I needed one top-30 finish in World Cups and I’ve now got four, or two top-15s in Europa Cup. I have one win and two top-15s for the season, so I’ve put myself in a really good position for selection going into the summer.“Hopefully next season in the World Cup tour I can keep strengthening my position. We won’t find out officially until January, a few weeks before we are due to travel, so it’ll be quite hectic.”
Guest, who placed 33rd on her Olympic debut in PyeongChang 2018, has been contemplating her prospects ahead of a potentially career-defining 12 months. “Over the last few weeks I’ve begun to start talking about Beijing,” she acknowledged.
“I’ve started to think about goals and, in my mind, a top-20 finish would be a minimum expectation. I’m currently 33rd in the World Cup Slalom standings so I think top-20 is a nice round goal to have, but you never know who is going to be there or what’s going to happen, but I’d like to think that’s where I can be.“I’m in a much better position now than I was going into the previous Olympic cycle. Leading into PyeongChang 2018, I was unable to walk due to so much back pain. It was ridiculous, but I went to PyeongChang and it was a great experience. I managed to achieve a good result in the team event, but individually, I just wasn’t in the same league that I’m performing in now.“If my body is happy and I’m smart with how I’m working, then results will follow. It’s then just a case of having a clear head, realistic expectations and having fun going about it. I’m looking forward to, hopefully, having an opportunity in Beijing and being fully prepared and ready for it.”
“To begin with, I was thrilled to have a little more time off skis,” admitted Guest. “It was nice to have a little bit more time at home in the summer when the weather was good. I got kind of lucky. I’d just moved house and my new neighbour had a garage with gym equipment, which he let me borrow for the duration of lockdown – so although I was training by myself and without my usual coaches, I was still able to have a productive lockdown.”
“We’ve never been through this before and we all had to get on a charter flight, which was quite unusual. Everyone had to be tested before we could enter the hotel and enter our first race bubble. It was well organised and it felt safe as nobody could get in that hadn’t been tested.“It was weird, but thinking back on it now, we took it all in our stride quite well.”
“It offers a great deal of financial stability during this really difficult time for everyone,” said Guest. “Winning Students has allowed me to spend extra time on my studies and training. It’s been a game-changer, to be honest.”
“The Psychology department at Aberdeen is a great help. I couldn’t do it without the support and understanding from them.”
A new report from the four UK university funding bodies has found improvements in the representation of people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in the assessment panels for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF).
The report, Analysis of full REF 2021 panel membership, summarises the equalities characteristics of the members appointed to the REF 2021 expert panels and compares its findings with information from REF 2014, as well as with the UK’s population of academic staff and professors.
The results show clear progress in increasing the representation of members from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Panel members from these backgrounds make up 11 per cent of REF 2021 appointed panellists compared with five per cent in REF 2014.
The proportion of REF 2021 panel members from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds is now in line with that observed in the wider population of professors in the UK. However, while progress has been made, the data show there is still more work to be done to align more closely with the general academic population.
The new analysis also shows continuing positive trends in the representativeness of the panels. This includes significant increases in female representation with females now making up 45 per cent of appointed panellists compared with 33 per cent in REF 201. Furthermore, the representation of appointed members with a declared disability has seen an increase from one per cent in the previous exercise to five per cent.
These improvements follow the introduction of measures at the outset of the 2021 exercise which were specifically aimed at increasing representativeness on the REF panels.
This included tailored ‘Fairness in REF’ training in advance of panel selection processes, and a new requirement for information on equality and diversity considerations to be provided by organisations nominating candidates for membership.
“As we work towards a net zero economy, it is imperative that the estates of Scotland’s institutions match this common goal. This report from Edinburgh University, in response to SFC’s Climate Emergency Collaboration Challenge, clearly shows how collaboration between construction, academia, architecture and design sectors can lead to some real green solutions. This will help in removing the barriers to zero-carbon built developments across the higher and further education sector.”
“The university’s complex estate presents many unique challenges, which we must overcome as part of the university’s commitment to net zero across all of our international operations by 2040. We recognise the importance of decarbonising our estate, not just to remove our own emissions, but also because of our role as a global sustainability leader and an anchor institution in a world heritage city. Realising our ambitions requires a whole institution approach with low or zero carbon embedded as a key priority into a long term programme, and harnessing both specialist and academic expertise to lead the way for higher and further education, and for the wider public sector estate.”
“Scottish school students and their teachers have worked incredibly hard in the most challenging of circumstances and today’s exam results are a tribute to their amazing efforts.“The figures from UCAS are encouraging in showing record numbers of Scottish students being offered their first choice of a university place. I know that both universities and colleges across Scotland will be supporting students to move successfully to the next part of their learner journey.”
Professor Jane Lewis, Principal, said
“This project has involved a great deal of hard work over several years and I am extremely grateful to all who have been involved for their commitment and effort. I look forward to working with everyone at Shetland UHI, and our partners, to build on the legacies of the merged organisations and deliver inspirational learning, influential training and innovative research rooted in the heart of Shetland’s community”.
Shetland UHI is constituted as a charitable company and is overseen by a Board of Directors, which includes independent Directors and Staff and Student representatives. The Board is Chaired by Davie Sandison. Davie said
“This is a very significant point in our evolution into the new merged College for Shetland, and it is exciting to look forward to the opportunities ahead of us. I am looking forward to working with the Shetland UHI staff and my fellow Board Members to implement Shetland UHI’s strategies and deliver high-quality education for Shetland.”
Tonight the Tokyo Olympics games will officially kick off with the opening ceremony at 12.00 BST.
This summer we are looking at a number of Scottish athletes who have come through the Winning Students scholarship scheme.
The Winning Students programme has been one of Scottish sports’ success stories over the past ten years.
The programme ensures that student athletes get support and flexibility to train and compete while studying at a Scottish college or university. Since its inception in 2008, Winning Student athletes have performed at every Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
The way it works is that gifted young athletes are supported by scholarships of up to £6,000 a year. The money can be used for a range of sports services such as physiotherapy, coaching, psychology and training as well as academic related expenses such as accommodation, living costs and study fees. Winning Students scholars are identified and nominated by the governing body of their sport and the scholarships are funded by the Scottish Funding Council.
This week we hear from swimmer Duncan Scott who in July 2019 claimed his first individual-medal at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju. Bronze hardware earned from the 200-metre Freestyle – and the ideal way to commence the 12-month countdown to the Tokyo Olympics.
The University of Stirling student was on an upward curve, competing with the best and making waves, however, personal ambitions soon became an afterthought as COVID-19 struck and decimated the sporting calendar.
During the initial lockdown, Scott spent 16 weeks out of the pool, the longest he’d been away from the water since learning to swim as a five-year-old. “It was a really strange time,” Scott remarked, during a rare few hours off.
“I think the most difficult period was the first few weeks, the unknowns about the year ahead. It was still an Olympic year, and there was so much we’d worked towards. Our Olympic trials were due to start in a couple of weeks and we’d just done our preparation phase – and then the country goes into lockdown and we can’t swim.
“I think once the initial announcement of the Olympics being postponed was made, I became more relaxed and realised that I wasn’t the only one in this situation. If anything, another year can benefit me, a year more of maturing and further chances to learn.”
Without the opportunity to hone his craft in the pool, Scott shelved the swimming gear and dusted down his bike in an attempt to break-up the repetitive nature of life under restrictions.
“I did some cycling and it was my first time out using the roads,” said the 23-year-old, who won two relay silvers at the Rio Olympics five years ago.
“We did gym work three times a week via Zoom calls, and it was good to keep engaged. The gym work was the main focus during lockdown and it brought quite a few challenges. It became quite monotonous at times, but that’s just life in lockdown anyway.”
In January this year, Scott received the welcome news that he was amongst four British swimmers pre-selected for Tokyo. The foursome – also including Adam Peaty, James Wilby and Luke Greenbank – benefited from British Swimming’s revision of its selection policy.
Scott punched his early ticket to the Olympics thanks to outstanding performances at the 2019 World Championships, and whilst thrilled to secure his berth on the plane, he was quick to emphasise the hard work ahead.
“I was grateful to hear that I’m going to be a part of the team,” he beamed. “It’s great to get that part of it done. It is strange, though, because I haven’t got any events secured and I could be going as an alternate or, I could be going with quite a few events.
“I’ve still got to earn all the events I would like to swim and also earn my spots in the relays. I need to show why I’ve been picked early, so there is still plenty for me to do at the trials. With the depth in British swimming now, it’s important I’m in really good shape.”
“It’s about staying consistent and, from then on, starting to freshen up,” he continued. “It’s going to be the first time I’ll be able to race long course, which is quite exciting. It’s not something I’ve been able to say I’ve done since August 2019.”
With the Olympics about to start Scott is, naturally, contemplating his Tokyo prospects. ”It’s not just this year I’ve been thinking about the games,” he admits. “It has been the last two to three years I’ve been thinking about it.
“Last year I didn’t have the benefit to say I’d qualified, so thinking about it then was quite difficult, knowing anything could happen at the trials, but now my mind can drift and I can go to Tokyo in my head and think about things. I find visualisation is something I quite enjoy doing, it helps quite a lot, so I do that every so often. I think in terms of targets, it’s about getting through the rounds.”
Throughout the last few years, Scott has been juggling life as an elite athlete with the demands of being a student. He has now completed a joint honours degree in Business Studies and Sports Studies.I’m looking forward to becoming a full-time athlete. As much as I’ve enjoyed university, it’s been a real challenge. It’s probably been quite good for me in that I don’t find it easy. I find it quite difficult; it’s something I need to think about. It’s been a big learning curve regarding time-management and doing things I don’t necessarily want to.
“The university has always been very accommodating, which has been great. Whether it’s exam deferrals or being allowed to submit essays a little bit later, they’ve always been aware of the different dates I’m away.”
As a beneficiary of the Winning Students sports scholarship programme throughout his time at university, Scott is wholesome in his praise of the support he’s received.
“At the start of my university career, when I was a little unsure about finances, Winning Students was a great help to me,” he acknowledged. “At that time, a lot of the squad were at university and all part of Winning Students, so we were all just very appreciative of it. It was not just helpful from a university perspective in the first few years, but also with travelling for competitions and my general swimming career.”
Based on article by Graham Semple. Image from Scottish Swimming.
As part of a £127 million UK wide investment in research and innovation announced today, Scotland and Cumbria will receive £21.3 million of funding to support the rural economy. The investment, from the UKRI’s Strength in Places Fund, will be matched by finance from other sources to create a total budget of around £37 million.
The Digital Dairy Value-Chain project has been designed to provide long-term economic benefits; job creation, skills development, future industrial competitiveness and quality of life were all among the criteria for the awarding of funds. The project has been under development and receiving seed-corn funding since August 2020.
Dairy farmers in south west Scotland and Cumbria currently produce 1.9 billion litres of milk each year. This will be protected and enhanced by the creation of more than 600 new jobs and the addition of £60 million to the annual output of the regional economy.
Through new research and innovation activities led by Scotland’s rural college (SRUC), the project will renew and decarbonise the area’s dairy industry, making it stronger and more sustainable for the future. Other partners include SFC-funded CENSIS, the universities of Strathclyde and the West of Scotland, Cows & Co Group Limited and Lactalis McLelland Limited.
UK Research and Innovation’s Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said:
“UK Research and Innovation funding through the Strength in Places Fund brings researchers, industry and local leadership together in outstanding collaborative programmes that catalyse significant economic growth.
“The projects funded in this round are excellent illustrations of how local partnerships in research and innovation can contribute to building an inclusive knowledge economy for the UK.”
Further information on all five projects receiving Strength in Places funding is available on the UKRI website.
The Scottish Funding Council has today announced the allocation of £4.2 million of funding for mental health counselling services in colleges and universities.
Today’s allocation is part of a four-year programme which began in 2019 to provide more than 80 additional counsellors in further and higher education. The latest allocation is addressing the issue of equity of access for college and university students to counselling services.
After extensive consultation with Colleges Scotland and other stakeholders today’s announcement sees £2.4 million being invested in colleges and £1.8 million going to universities. The division of funding protects the current provision of university counselling services.
Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said:
“We know this has been an extremely challenging period which has impacted on the mental health and well-being of our university and college students.
“To ensure our students have the right support in place we are investing £4.2 million for mental health and counselling services which includes an increased allocation of £2.4 million for colleges to address equity of access to counsellors. We are determined to introduce an additional eighty counsellors in colleges and universities over a four year period and are now two thirds of the way to achieving that.”
James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“All students should have the same ability to access counselling services, regardless of whether they study online or in person, at a college or a university. Today’s funding allocation recognises that positive mental health is fundamental to the ability of every student to make the most of their education experience and secure their goals.
“In addition to the significant investments made in student mental health during the pandemic, this investment will have real benefits in ensuring a level playing field for all those needing counselling support.”
The 2021 National Student Survey (NSS), published today, shows Scottish universities leading the rest of the UK nations in overall student satisfaction.
Almost 80 per cent of final year undergraduates surveyed were satisfied with the quality of their course compared with a UK average of just over 75 per cent.
The University of St Andrews remains the top non-specialist institution in the UK for student satisfaction and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) recorded the largest increase in student satisfaction north of the Border with a rise of over 4 percentage points.
The National Student Survey is the largest and longest-running annual survey of UK students and is historically based on answers to 27 questions. For the 2021 survey, six additional questions were added to gauge the impact of the pandemic on students’ experiences.
In each of the UK nations, the overall satisfaction level was less than last year. According to the survey’s publishers, the most likely explanation for this is the pandemic. They also identified a connection between overall satisfaction and students’ opinion on how well learning and teaching had been delivered during lockdowns.
One of the six additional COVID-related questions was asked about mental health, where the UK average for students agreeing their provider had taken sufficient steps to help them was 42 per cent. The figure in Scotland was slightly lower at 39 per cent.
James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“In the Scottish Funding Council’s recent review of tertiary education we set out an ambition for students to have their voice heard and valued, and to be able to influence their educational experience.
“The National Student Survey is one way in which we can tune into that student voice, and it’s encouraging to see Scotland performing well against the backdrop of the difficult pandemic experience. Today’s results also provide universities with areas for improvement and I know they will work, together with student bodies, to ensure plans are in place to act on the findings and further enhance the student experience.”
Read the full results of the 2021 National Student Survey.
Scotland’s colleges have successfully supported students to complete their studies and gain qualifications despite the effects of the global pandemic.
The evidence comes in the latest annual analysis of college performance to be carried out by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). Despite some necessary allowances to the pandemic, including a delayed publication date, the report represents the fullest possible picture of colleges’ work in the last academic year.
Of the full-time higher education students able to be included in the report, over 73 per cent had successfully completed their course. For those studying on a further education course, the corresponding figure was over 65 per cent. For both further and higher education students, the numbers leaving their course before completion were down on last year, possibly due to the effects of the pandemic.
The report also shows that, despite the difficulties of the past year, colleges exceeded the national target for student places by almost 1,400 full-time equivalent places.
There was also positive news in progress towards breaking down the barriers to education faced by care-experienced students whose likelihood of completing a course is statistically less than their peers. In 2019-20 the success rate for this group increased by almost 1 per cent and the numbers of those leaving their course went down by over 3.5 per cent.
Commenting on the report, James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Colleges have been operating in the most challenging of circumstances and have gone to extraordinary lengths to make sure all students have had the best possible opportunity to reach their potential.
“This report shows the extent of what they have achieved and underlines the partnership which has existed across colleges, government and the Scottish Funding Council to support learners and learning at this most important time.”
“I haven’t had a single competition for over a year now,” said McIntosh, highlighting the devastating impact of COVID-19 on her sport. “It’s the longest I’ve ever been away from competition, and this is the longest I’ve been in one country since I was ten years old, perhaps even younger.“It’s certainly the longest I’ve been in one place without staying with other people or being in a hotel. It’s very strange.”
“I tried to do a little bit of training at the start of lockdown,” explained McIntosh. ”When the Olympics was cancelled, though, and everything else in between, I decided to take a break for a little while. Rest and recuperate, I guess.“I train at the University of Edinburgh and I managed to get some of my equipment out of there before the Olympics was cancelled – and I tried to see if there was another venue I could train at later on.“My dad (her coach) had some of the equipment I’m not allowed to keep in my flat. I had some things I was allowed to keep with me, so I was able to do some, what we call, dry training, in my flat for a couple of weeks.“My flatmate is a biathlete and it’s important she maintains high fitness. I started doing a lot more fitness work with her to try and make physical improvements, which is sometimes hard to do during shooting training.”
“In shooting there is always shock results,” she acknowledged. “It’s quite normal. There will be shock results in both directions with people shooting higher than you’d expect and others shooting lower than you’d expect, but I don’t know if that will have anything to do with COVID-19 as people can find the Olympics very stressful. I am not sure if it will be more different than usual.”
“I’d like a medal, that would be cool,” she said. “It’s perfectly possible and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility. I’ve only got one event before the Olympics and I haven’t shot for over a year in competition, so I think if I go out there and shoot well then I’ll be happy regardless of what happens.“There are other athletes in other countries that have been competing. There’s recently been a World Cup in Delhi that I didn’t attend, and lots of other athletes are beginning to compete again.”
“Normally it’s hard to juggle things when I’m away so much,” said McIntosh. “Being stuck at home has made things a little bit easier. I’m nearly finished my Masters and I’ve got a few assignments due in the next few weeks. I’m getting through the work and then it’s just my dissertation after that.”
‘It’s awesome. I love being a part of Winning Students,” she continued. “I think it’s nice to hear about all the other student-athletes and sometimes getting to meet them, obviously outwith COVID-19 times.
“It’s great meeting with other student-athletes to find out how they deal with mixing sport and studies. I also get quite a lot of funding from Winning Students, which is helpful for tuition fees, kit and maintaining a healthy diet. My equipment is sometimes quite expensive so any help is much appreciated.”
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are key to our economic renewal.“The Scottish Government is focused on creating the best conditions for entrepreneurs to succeed and skills are right at the heart of that. This exciting new programme taps into the talent of our present-day entrepreneurs, equipping them to pass on their experience to the entrepreneurs of the future.
“I congratulate all today’s graduates and look forward to following their progress as we build a stronger, greener and fairer economy.”
“When I first heard about this programme of E² I thought, I want to go on this programme because it’s right up my street. First of all, all the universities in Scotland coming together to promote this is first class and in our opinion at the Hunter Foundation there’s never been a more important time for this sort of course. There is no better way to learn than peer to peer experiences.“Entrepreneurs have a great history of giving back to the community from which they have learned so much. I’m really chuffed for the people who are graduating today and I can’t wait to hear about your experiences back in the classroom.”
“Despite the difficulties that the current pandemic has presented, all of the Scottish university business schools have come together in a partnership to develop, build and deliver the E² programme. Through combining theory with real-world business case studies, the E² programme fills an important gap by giving programme participants the tools to support the next generation of Scottish businesses to scale.”
“I am delighted that today we can celebrate the achievements of those on the E² programme. As we come out of this global pandemic, our innovators and entrepreneurs, including those graduating today, are vital to driving our green economic recovery and adapting to a constantly changing environment.“I look forward to seeing how each of our first thirty three graduates will put their experience and newly acquired skills to use, educating and encouraging the entrepreneurs who will create high-quality jobs and support Scotland’s long-term economic prosperity.”
“Widening access to higher education is incredibly important because it can disrupt cycles of deprivation and level up opportunities for under-represented groups in our society.“We should celebrate the progress reflected in this report. However, the pandemic and the real-life experiences of students remind us that circumstances can change very quickly and that we need to constantly redefine the challenges of widening access and design systems that can flex to them.Responding better to the changing needs of learners and society is a key part of the recommendations in our review of Tertiary Education and Research, and we are preparing to work towards this with our partners.”
“All learners should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential regardless of background or circumstances, so it is great to see the number of Scots from the most deprived areas at university hit a record high in 2019-20.“By exceeding the Widening Access interim target early, our universities continue to demonstrate their progress in admitting students based on their potential, and not just past academic achievement.“It is also positive to see over a fifth (21.4%) of full-time undergraduate entrants coming from the most deprived areas in Scotland when looking at the college and university sectors combined.“I also welcome the latest Annual Report from the Commissioner for Fair Access, also published today, which continues to challenge both policymakers and the sector to do more to improve the accessibility of higher education in Scotland, especially given the additional complexity created by COVID-19. I will consider this report and its recommendations carefully.”
“This review has brought together the expertise and experience of countless participants. I am incredibly grateful to all of them for being so generous with their time and expertise amongst the many other demands of the past year.“It is clear that we come from a position of strength with some of the best colleges and universities in the world. However, we are living in uncertain and changing times and we need to create the conditions for a tertiary education, skills and research system that can be more responsive not only to learners but to the economic, cultural and social needs of Scotland.“We look forward to working with partners to deliver on the many recommendations set out in our Report that will enable us to respond effectively and at pace, and set ambitious pathways for the future.”
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“The 2021 Herald Higher Education Awards ceremony was inspirational. It was also a richly deserved celebration of everything that colleges and universities in Scotland have achieved under difficult circumstances in the past year. My congratulations to all the finalists and winners.”
Speaking about Martin Fairbairn’s award she said:
“Martin shaped tertiary education funding and policy for decades, and the organisation SFC has become today. It is an intense pleasure to see Martin being recognised for his outstanding success”.
Backed by £20 million of new Scottish Government funding, students in financial hardship can apply directly to their college or university’s Coronavirus Discretionary Fund.
The Scottish Government has also committed to review the future of summer support and the availability of funds will be monitored to ensure support remain available to students throughout summer.
This latest funding package takes total Scottish Government support for students since the start of the pandemic to more than £96 million.
Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said:
“The pandemic has impacted students significantly and not only has there been disruption to their education, but many students have faced financial difficulties with accommodation, associated costs or challenges in getting jobs. This additional £20 million will help to alleviate the financial pressure and stress facing many of our students over the summer period.
“The Student Hardship Task Force have been a crucial voice in ensuring students are supported this summer and I thank them for their important work.
“The support provided to students over the course of the pandemic has been substantial with now over £96 million being provided via hardship funding, digital access, mental health support and for student associations.”
James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“We know that financial pressures contribute to other challenges faced by students, including mental health and being able to confidently complete their studies. This is a really welcome announcement.”
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today given Funding for Mental Health in colleges AY 2021-22. The money will allow colleges to develop mental health and resilience packages that fit their own specific needs.
The move is the latest in a series of Scottish Government investments made through SFC to support students and staff struggling to cope with the mental health impacts of COVID-19.
In 2020 SFC announced £1.32 million to colleges and universities for services such as online counselling. Recognising the negative effect of money worries on student mental health, last summer also saw over £11 million of discretionary funds being made available for additional financial support. Earlier this year, SFC also allocated over £750,000 to help student associations in their work to provide mental health services.
The latest funding will help to develop the role of Mental Health Co-ordinators in colleges. Other uses of the money could include more student-led services, such as the creation of a colleges’ mental health nightline and more wellbeing support for college staff.
Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said:
“We know that the move to blended learning and significant reduction in face to face learning over the last year has been especially challenging for our college students.
“Our funding of £4.4 million, supported by the guidance published today, builds on significant Scottish Government investment already made in this area and will enable colleges to develop mental health and resilience packages that are most appropriate to the needs of their communities. This includes the development of Mental Health Co-ordinators, Nightline and support for staff.”
James Dunphy, Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Positive mental health is fundamental to students’ ability to progress and make the most of their education experience.
“We know the pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of many students, and so this funding is a further vital investment in positive student outcomes.”
Shona Struthers, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland said:
“Since the start of the pandemic, colleges in Scotland have been working hard with Scottish Government to increase the funding for mental health support to benefit students and staff who have faced some really difficult circumstances. The funding is a substantial investment in mental health support which colleges can use locally to best suit the needs of their students and their workforce.”
Three Scottish universities have made it into the top 100 in this year’s QS World University Rankings. Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews all feature in the top 100 with all three improving on their previous ranking. Edinburgh features as Scotland’s highest ranked university moving up from 20th to 16th in the world this year. Edinburgh also featured as the fifth highest university in the United Kingdom behind Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial College London.
Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt and Stirling also all improved on their ranking from the previous year. In addition to Strathclyde and Dundee a total of eight Scottish universities made it into the top 500.
Featuring 13,000 universities from around the world, this year’s university rankings are the largest number ever. Each institution has been assessed according to six key metrics including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/ student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ration and international student ratio.
Martin Boyle SFC’s Director of Policy, Insight and Analytics said:
“It’s fantastic to see three Scottish universities featuring in the top 100 with many of Scotland’s universities improving on their performance in this year’s QS Top Universities rankings.
“We want to help make Scotland the best place in the world to educate, research and innovate and these rankings demonstrate that Scotland’s universities continue to improve and are world leading.”