Converge, Scotland’s leading entrepreneurial development programme for universities and research institutes, has officially opened for applications to its 2024 programme.
More than £280,000 in funding and support is available to the winners and runners-up across four challenge categories; Converge, Create Change, KickStart, and Net Zero. Those who make the cut will also enjoy access to the advice, networking events, and training that make Converge a highly regarded company creation initiative.
Part-funded by the Scottish Funding Council, Converge has supported more than 670 people to launch more than 420 companies over the last 13 years and has raised £360 million in follow-on funding along the way. Companies formed by Converge alumni have an 80% survival rate after three years.
Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo, executive director of Converge, said:
“Converge is committed to empowering and supporting the next generation of diverse founders and innovators who are driven by purpose and passion to make a difference in the world.
“We take a collaborative, ecosystem approach – working closely with universities, research institutes, investors, corporate partners and other organisations to help these brave individuals turn their dreams into reality. By backing talented, mission-led founders and connecting them to the full range of Scotland’s entrepreneurial support system, we can have an even greater collective impact.
“Whether it’s a climate-focused business like Robocean who won the 2022 Converge Net Zero Challenge or a company addressing other societal needs, our goal is to foster more inclusive innovation and harness Scotland’s spirit of invention to build a better future.”
Scotland’s Commissioner for Fair Access, Professor John McKendrick, has published his first annual report since taking up the post last year. In his report, Professor McKendrick considers how the framework for promoting fair access can be further strengthened.
Fair access is a commitment to ensure that learners from Scotland’s most disadvantaged backgrounds are able to realise their potential through higher education. The aim is that by 2030, students from the 20% most deprived areas should represent 20% of entrants to higher education.
The report confirms the 2021 interim target of 16% was met but also notes a slight fall from 16.7% to 16.5% in the proportion of entrants to Scottish higher education institutions from the most deprived areas last year. The focus is now on the 2026 goal of 18%.
The Commissioner aims to produce a second report later this year following the publication of the Scottish Funding Council’s 2022-23 Report on Widening Access. The SFC report includes information on students progressing onto their second year of study. As part of a wider call for a better understanding of students’ experiences and outcomes the Commissioner has called for future reports to track progression rates for all years of study and changes in the use of the SIMD20 measure.
The Commissioner recognised the success of Scotland’s Community of Access and Participation Practitioners (SCAPP), established in 2019 to support the professional development of staff working in widening access teams, and asked the Scottish Funding Council to commit to more secure and longer-term funding, It is funded by SFC alongside the National School Programme and the Scottish Wider Access Programme.
In a further recommendation, the Commissioner asks SFC and its partners to look into creating a new web-based resource to give prospective students an easy and accessible way of finding the support they need to help them into higher education.
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said,
“We welcome the Commissioner’s report and recognise the important work that takes place in universities and colleges across Scotland in creating fairer access to higher education.
“While progress has been made, it is also clear there is still work to do. The Scottish Funding Council will continue to play a full role in tackling this collective challenge, with the Commissioner, the universities and colleges we fund, and wider stakeholders, in order to support the achievement of the 20% target by 2030.”
Higher education – renewing the alliance for fair access: annual report 2024 is published on the Scottish Government website.
The Scottish Funding Council’s Regional Tertiary Pathfinder programme has supported the development of an interactive map of digital skills courses in the South of Scotland.
The South of Scotland’s Digital Pathfinder, a collaborative project between Dumfries and Galloway College and Borders College under SFC’s Regional Tertiary Pathfinders, has developed an innovative interactive map showcasing the digital skills provision available across the region. Employers in the South of Scotland are now able to find digital skills training with just a few clicks thanks to this investment from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and the work of Digital Pathfinder stakeholders.
The SFC Regional Tertiary Pathfinder programme has been working closely with regional partners in the South of Scotland to test new ways of responding to priorities for the regional and national economy. These include collaborations between colleges, universities, regional stakeholders and employers. As a product of this initiative, the digital skills map showcases the excellent work being done.
With an enviable choice of digital skills training and development at many levels, South of Scotland employers can have difficulty in selecting the right resources for their businesses. The Digital Skills Provision Map makes things much simpler and easier to navigate by bringing everything together in one place.
The map has been created jointly by Dumfries and Galloway and Borders colleges working with organisations including Business Gateway, Skills Development Scotland and South of Scotland Enterprise. It will be updated every year so employers always have access to the most up-to-date information available.
Jacqui Brasted, Interim Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Digital skills are a vital part of businesses’ ability to increase their productivity and remain competitive. I am delighted that our funding, which is part of our wider Pathfinder programme, has been instrumental in creating a great new resource for businesses in the South of Scotland.”
Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive Officer, South of Scotland Enterprise, said:
“This new Digital Skills Provision Map is an excellent tool for businesses and enterprises in the South of Scotland to access the right digital training for their staff.
“The launch of the new pathway map has been a collaborative effort amongst our region’s skills providers, with the collective aim of helping people across the South to grow and thrive, both now and in the future.”
Earlier this year the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) announced a long term investment plan focused on innovation, jobs and growth in key areas of Scotland’s future economy.
The announcement followed an assessment of the national innovation centre programme which was established by SFC in 2013. Based on the assessment panel’s recommendations, four of the centres will be supported by up to £2m of SFC funds annually for up to a decade to cement their place at the heart of Scottish innovation and knowledge exchange.
SFC is working with the remaining innovation centres on shorter-term transitional funding as they move to new models of support, including from the private sector.
Scottish Innovation Centres, which have been described as world leading hi-tech organisations, are partnerships between SFC, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and they have backing from industry.
Innovation Centres add value through collaborative projects, consortia building, secondments and industrial studentships as well as providing spaces for collaborative work and shared access to equipment. Innovation centres also support skills and training to develop the next generation of researchers and knowledge exchange practitioners through masters and post-doctoral level provision .
Commenting on the announcement, Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“The move to long term investment builds on a decade of astute funding that has produced significant dividends in terms of new products, new processes and new jobs. It has also created valuable relationships between universities, colleges and industry. Each of the current innovation centres will benefit from this unique legacy.
“Data; Digital Health & Care; biotech; and innovation for a zero carbon built environment will benefit from long-term public investment focussed on opportunities for creating future prosperity.”
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today (4 January 2024) published two reports that provide an aggregate picture of the financial health of Scotland’s colleges and universities respectively. Based on their annual accounts for academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22 and latest forecasts up to 2025-26 for colleges and 2024-25 for universities, the reports provide detailed information at sector level on the operating position, cash balances, sources of income, expenditure, liquidity, cash flow, borrowing and capital expenditure.
Both colleges and universities continue to operate in an extremely tight fiscal environment. While neither sector is homogenous, and the forecasts represent a snapshot in time, both sectors face similar risks to their financial health, including:
- The uncertain macro-economic outlook.
- Increasing staff costs.
- Rising energy costs.
- Unanticipated public spending cuts.
- The requirement to invest in the achievement of public sector net zero targets.
- The impact of RAAC.
SFC will continue to monitor and assess the financial health (sustainability and viability) of colleges and universities through regular engagement and analysis of financial returns.
Commenting on the reports, SFC Chief Executive, Karen Watt said:
“While these reports represent a snapshot in time, we recognise that colleges and universities are operating in an extremely tight fiscal environment. We will increase levels of engagement and monitoring activity for those institutions facing risks to their financial health and work with them to understand and assess plans to bring them back to a sustainable position.”
The Chair of the Scottish Funding Council, Mike Cantlay, has welcomed the reappointment of Sheila Duncan and the appointments of Linda Hanna and Grant Ritchie as members of the SFC Board. The appointments were announced earlier today by Higher and Further Education Minister, Graeme Dey.
The reappointment of Sheila Duncan will run from 4 November 2023 to 28 June 2024. While the appointments of Linda Hanna and Grant Richie will run from 13 November 2023 to 28 June 2024.
Sheila Duncan has over 20 years business experience and during her career has held a number of senior human resources (HR) positions in both Financial services and the Energy sector. Throughout her career, Sheila has been strongly committed to education and lifelong learning, championing diversity, inclusion and accessibility for all irrespective of background. Sheila holds an M.A. (Hons) from the University of Glasgow and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
Linda Hanna is an experienced leader and non-executive working across academia, public and private sectors focusing on innovation and economic opportunities. She brings deep understanding of economic and regional development as well as both public sector and academic delivery to the Council. With a keen interest in science, innovation and skills, Linda now has a portfolio of interests including the Chair of Scotland’s Rural College and as a Strategic Adviser to University of Glasgow, Smart Things Accelerator Centre and Primary Engineer.
Grant Ritchie has extensive experience of the post-schools education sector having worked for over 30 years at Dundee and Angus College, serving as Principal for over five years. He led the development of creative industries provision at Dundee and Angus College and was responsible for the £50 million Gardyne Campus redevelopment and building of the Space Dance centre. He is a past chair of the Angus Community Planning Partnership, the Colleges Scotland skilled workforce forum, the Scottish Qualification Authority’s (SQA) Higher National Next Generation Steering group, and the Energy Skills Partnership.
Mr Cantlay said:
“I am delighted that Sheila has agreed to extend her appointment and that we’ll have the ongoing benefit of her experience over the coming months. I’m also delighted to welcome Linda and Grant to the Board. The expert contribution of all three will be especially valuable in the face of the challenges and opportunities currently faced by the sector.“
The four UK funding bodies, which include the Scottish Funding Council, have today announced a year’s extension for the completion of the next UK-wide assessment of university research. The decision has been made in recognition of the complexities around data, processes, and codes of practices.
The announcement confirms a summary report on this summer’s consultation on REF initial decisions will be published in spring next year. Next spring will also see the publication of a document clarifying points of policy for the new REF cycle. This will include more details for universities on the information required to supplement their submission of outputs and impact case studies.
Following the 1 December deadline for written comments on the approach to assessing people, culture and environment, the REF team is commissioning further work on indicators to be delivered during 2024.
More information is available in the REF 2029 December update.
The Green Gown Awards recognise the exceptional sustainability initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges. This year’s ceremony took place in Liverpool where representatives from across the UK and Ireland gathered to celebrate the achievements of over 100 projects.
The Scottish Funding Council sponsored the ‘Creating Impact’ award, one of 16 categories at this year’s event. It was won by Shipley College for leading a Strategic Development Goal project for colleges in West Yorkshire.
The six Scottish winners were divided equally between projects from colleges and universities. Ayrshire College and Glasgow Caledonian University shared the honours in the Benefitting Society category. Glasgow Kelvin was a winner in the Next Generation Learning and Skills category, and Lisa McGovern from City of Glasgow College was named 2023 Staff Sustainability Champion.
The University of Aberdeen won the Research with Impact award for the second year running while SRUC won the Tomorrow’s Employees category for its approach to embedding sustainability. The University of Edinburgh was highly commended in the digital futures category for its IT Reuse Project.
Charlotte Bonner, Chief Executive of the EAUC, which organises the annual awards, said:
“The projects, initiatives and people showcased through the awards this year are, as ever, inspirational – it’s been a privilege to be part of the judging. I look forward to seeing them flourish in future and to using their examples to springboard further action for sustainability.”
Full details of all this year’s winners, highly commended and finalists are available of the Green Gown Awards website.
College student satisfaction rates are at their highest level since 2018-19 according to a new report published by the Scottish Funding Council.
The College Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey (SSES) was carried out over an eight-week period between 6 March and 28 April 2023. This year also saw record participation rates with a 12.1% increase in full-time students and a 9.0% increase in part-time students responding to the survey.
In total nine out of 10 full-time students were satisfied with their college experience (92.7%), the highest overall satisfaction levels in the five-year reporting period.
Overall satisfaction levels have increased in 2022-23 compared with 2021-22, with an increase in satisfaction of 1.9% for full-time further education students, an increase of 1.8% for part-time further education students, an increase of 3.4% for full-time higher education students and an increase of 2.3% for part-time higher education students.
Commenting on the results, Director of Policy, Insight & Analytics, Martin Boyle, said:
“Student feedback is an important source of intelligence which helps to drive improvements in colleges. Today’s results are encouraging and are a reflection of the commitment and hard work of college staff to support their students as they complete their studies. We will work with colleges to understand how they will use these results as part of their plans to continually enhance the student experience.”
The SSES provides a means to evaluate and enhance college provision in Scotland through monitoring student satisfaction and engagement at a national level. Over time, this will provide a consistent basis for college regions to show improvements within their outcome agreements with SFC.
Minister for Higher and Further Education, Graeme Dey, said:
“It is hugely encouraging to see that student satisfaction levels have increased across all levels of study and are now the highest on record.
“Nine out of ten college students were satisfied with their college experience in 2022-23 which demonstrates that our colleges continue to expertly support learners to fulfil their potential.”
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published its latest report on the outcomes of people leaving college.
Covering the academic year 2021-22, its findings reflect the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on day-to-day learning, individual students and the economy’s ability to provide employment.
Its authors note that students whose next steps are analysed in the report were likely to have had the final phase of their school lives disrupted by the pandemic. Those on courses such as construction and social care may have been unable to access the facilities needed to practice their skills or to undertake a work placement.
The report shows how these and other factors worked through into the national picture. Although 86% of people leaving college in 2021-22 moved on to a positive destination, this was five per cent lower than in the previous year. The downward pattern was the same at all levels of qualification but was more pronounced for those leaving with FE level qualifications.
Despite the tough jobs market, some leavers benefitted from having the right qualification at the right time. The proportion of students leaving college with an HE-level qualification in construction and finding employment rose by 17.5%. Those with the same level of qualification in hospitality and tourism benefitted from a 13% rise.
The report uncovers a play-off in the patterns of leavers moving on to either work or further studies. In subjects with a notable increase in college leavers finding work, the figures often reflect a corresponding fall in the proportion going to university.
Commenting on the findings, Martin Boyle, Director of Policy, Insight and Analytics at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“SFC’s college leaver destination reports go back almost a decade and give us a detailed understanding of where people are three to six months after qualifying. As you would expect, the reports covering the duration of the pandemic do not follow the norms established in earlier years and reflect the exceptional circumstances of the time.
“This latest report includes learners whose transition between school and college was disrupted and whose college experiences continued to be influenced by the pandemic.
“Despite these challenges, colleges worked flexibly, creatively and with compassion to support their students and to give them the best possible chance of moving forward”.
Innovation Voucher funding, aimed at encouraging partnerships between a Scottish business and a university or college, receive a boost in value for the first time since they were launched in 2009.
Standard Innovation Vouchers and Student Placement Innovation Vouchers now offer a value of up to £7.5k, a rise from £5k.
Each Innovation Voucher supports businesses to develop novel and pioneering products, services and processes or develop the company’s internal workforce such as new or enhanced workplace processes, practices and expertise in collaboration with a university or college partner. The collaborations also impact academic research and teaching while enhancing business skills and industry experience to the academic teams and students involved.
Interface manages the Innovation Voucher Funding on behalf of the Scottish Funding Council. Since 2009 almost 1,900 Innovation Vouchers have been issued with a value of over £9.5m.
Alan Pratt, Head of Systems and Finance at Interface said: “This increase in funding is a significant step in enabling more academic time to be funded for collaborative research and development projects. We find that businesses who work with academics for the first time through Innovation Vouchers establish long lasting links and go on to work on other projects with the same or other university or college partners. It really is the start of an exciting journey for many.”
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said: “Increasing the value of our innovation vouchers is great news for universities, colleges and the businesses they partner with.
“These partnerships are a fantastic way of combining academic expertise with the know-how and ambition of entrepreneurs wanting to create new products, services and processes. There have been some incredible examples of success in the last 14 years and today’s announcement is a commitment to that continuing into the future.”
To find out more about Innovation Vouchers please visit the website.
Three reports out today show how the benefits of academic research in Scottish universities extend into the lives of people not only in Scotland but in many other parts of the world.
An independent report from leading economic research specialists, the Fraser of Allander Institute, estimates that public investment channelled into research by the Scottish Funding Council supports almost 9,000 jobs and £590 million in sales of Scottish goods and services while contributing an annual £410 million to the Scottish economy.
RAND Europe’s analysis of material produced for the latest UK-wide assessment of university research found that Scottish universities were able to turn their research into local benefits in areas like education, health and the arts. It also found that research carried out in Scottish universities was helping to diagnose disease, uphold human rights and preserve cultures in countries across the globe.
The third report, a collection of research case studies published by the Scottish Funding Council, illustrates how its Research Excellence Grant, worth just under £247m in the current academic year, plays a vital role in underpinning the overall research system. Amongst the examples in the report are projects to improve heart health, support children with speech disorders and accelerate Scotland’s move to Net Zero.
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Research creates the new knowledge and inventions that benefit everyone in the long run. Taken together, the three reports published today show compelling evidence of the wide-ranging impact of Scottish university research and what it is achieving for us here in Scotland as well as the huge contribution it makes to societies across the world.
“Crucially, the reports show us the importance of sustained investment and the opportunity we have to build on Scotland’s exceptional research abilities to change lives, create prosperity and enrich communities.”
Dr Cagla Stevenson, Senior Analyst at RAND Europe, said:
“The Research Excellence Framework case studies provide a fantastic opportunity to look at the impact of Scottish research locally, nationally and internationally. Our study clearly shows that Scottish research has made significant contributions across different areas of society, from drug discovery and the marine environment to cultural heritage and education.”
Four pioneering Scottish research alliances (ARCs) were officially launched at an event held yesterday at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
They are part of an ambitious Scottish Funding Council (SFC) led initiative to establish collaborative, multi-disciplinary partnerships between universities and other parts of the research and innovation sector based around societal challenges. A key aim of the alliances is to provide support for Scottish universities to respond to national and international funding opportunities.
Building on Scotland’s strong culture of research collaboration, the alliances are focussing on areas aligned to the Scottish Government’s national priorities. They will be enabling collaborations in the areas of brain health; energy, homes and livelihoods; food; and quantum technologies.
The Scottish Funding Council is keen for the alliances to play a key role in developing Scotland’s next generation of researchers and so they will actively support researchers in the early stages of their career and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“By bringing together the best people from a whole range of disciplines across several universities these exciting alliances have enormous potential to harness new research opportunities for Scotland.
“They will also support Scottish researchers to continue doing what they have always done, which is to help provide the answers to some of the most pressing challenges faced by societies across the world.”
Each ARC will be funded up to a total of £600,000 over the next four years.
You can read more about the ARCs in a Wonke blog from SFC’s Director of Research and Innovation, Helen Cross.
The UK’s higher education funding bodies are looking for feedback on the development of the assessment of people, culture and environment (PCE) in REF 2028.
Progressing the PCE indicators for the next research assessment exercise (REF) is part of an increased focus on the assessment of the conditions considered essential for research excellence.
As part of a new collaborative project the funding bodies will be organising roundtables and open web events through the autumn. Details of these will shortly be available on the FRAP website.
Steven Hill, chair of the REF 2028 Steering Group, said: “We want to make sure that PCE assessment in REF 2028 is robust, equitable and based on a shared vision for a healthy and vibrant research system.”
Interested parties are also being invited to submit comments via the FRAP website.
The latest Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings feature three Scottish universities in the top 25 institutions in the UK. All three have also achieved a top 200 ranking in the world. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 include 1,904 universities across 108 countries and regions.
The University of Edinburgh is ranked 5th in the UK and 30th in the world. The University of Glasgow is 10th in the UK list and 87th internationally, while the University of St Andrews is 25th in the UK and 193rd in the world listings.
The University of Oxford leads the THE World University Rankings 2024 for an eighth consecutive year.
THE analysis of the data behind the results indicates a decline in the average rank of universities in the United States over the last six years and a lesser fall in the UK’s average rank. Countries where the average rank has improved over the same period include China, Australia and Canada.
The full results and analysis of the rankings are available on the THE website.
Figures released today from UCAS show an exceptionally high level of demand for university places from Scottish school leavers. So far in the university admissions cycle for 2023-24 16,510 Scottish school leavers have been accepted for a place at university. The figure is 19% higher that it was at the same point in 2019 before the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
More generally, overall demand from Scottish applicants has returned to pre-pandemic levels with 33,310 Scottish applicants being accepted onto a degree course at a Scottish university. In line with other parts of the UK, a higher proportion of applicants have been accepted through the Clearing process.
Today’s figures also show a slight increase of around a third of a percentage point on last year in the proportion of acceptances from applicants from the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland.
Clearing remains open until 17 October and the UCAS team is available to advise and guide students still exploring their options. More information is available on the UCAS website.
The Chair of the Scottish Funding Council, Mike Cantlay, has welcomed the reappointment of six members of the SFC Board. The reappointments were announced earlier today by Higher and Further Education Minister, Graeme Dey.
The six will begin their new terms of office on 4 November 2023 and serve until 3 November 2026.
Lorna Jack is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. She is the Chair of Highlands & Islands Airports Limited, a Scottish Government owned company and Chair of the board of private sector accountancy group Opulus Financial. Lorna is also the Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Scotland.
Professor Ewart Keep holds the emeritus Chair in Education, Training and Skills at the Department of Education, Oxford University. Ewart has advised the UK government departments, parliamentary committees at Holyrood and Westminster, the OCED and the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
Irene McAra-McWilliam worked as Director of Design Research for Philips Electronics and is currently Deputy Director of Research & Innovation at The Glasgow School of Art. Irene was awarded an OBE in 2016 in recognition of her work in Higher Education, Innovation and Design.
Peter Mathieson was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Bristol between 2008 and 2014 when he became the President and Vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong. Peter was knighted for services to higher education in 2023. He has been the Principal of the University of Edinburgh since 2018.
Andy Kerr has chaired several high-level boards including within the NHS. He was formerly the chair of the Board of Quality Scotland and South Lanarkshire College. Andy has extensive knowledge of business and commerce both as policy maker and as a practitioner and has worked in the public, private and third sectors.
Professor John Wallace CBE has had a distinguished career as a musician, playing the trumpet in the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, and London Sinfonietta. From 2002-14 John was the Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has a CBE for services to Dance, Drama and Music and in 2021 was awarded the Queen’s medal for music.
Mr Cantlay said:
“Members of the SFC Board consistently demonstrate their determination to do their absolute best for tertiary education and research in Scotland. Their expert contribution is especially valuable in the face of the challenges and opportunities currently faced by the sector.“
“I am delighted that the Board will retain the services of these six experienced and highly regarded colleagues for a further three years.”
The SFC-funded Alliances for Research Challenges (ARCs) programme took a further step forward today with the announcement of a new alliance for quantum technologies.
Joining the previously-announced alliances for brain health, energy and food, the quantum technologies project will receive up to £600,000 of SFC funding over the next four years. The investment will enable it to create multi-disciplinary, cross-sector teams to strengthen and accelerate bids for major research grants, including funding from overseas.
The ARCs programme is designed to address some of the biggest questions facing the Scottish Government and governments across the world. Quantum technology has the potential to provide breakthroughs in areas such as medical diagnostics and zero-carbon energy production, as well as computing and communications.
The new alliance will build on Scotland’s established strengths in quantum science and technology and create the skills base needed to realise future benefits.
In a joint statement ARC co-leads, Dr Ashley Lyons and Dr Sam Bayliss, said:
“We are seeing rapid and remarkable developments in using quantum-mechanical features of the world to enable practical technologies, with Scotland being a key player in this progress.
“The key to realising the potential benefits of such technologies is a holistic approach which creates dialogue between market-driven challenges; cutting-edge research – including in subjects such as the arts, humanities, and social sciences – and wider society.
“Thanks to this ARC, we are in a special position to be able to achieve this, and create a new, interdisciplinary hub for quantum technologies development in Scotland.”
Helen Cross, SFC’s Director of Research and Innovation, said:
“It’s great to be able to confirm another collaborative award in our ARCs programme. Creating a research challenge for quantum technologies will accelerate Scottish research collaboration in this area and allow us to benefit from the potential of quantum technologies more fully and more quickly.
“An important aspect of the multi-disciplinary approach is that the cross-university network will consider the ethical and societal impact of the technology as well as the science itself.”
A programme of low interest loans totalling up to £26 million is being made available to universities for the current financial year.
The programme is designed to advance Scottish universities’ carbon management and net zero plans and to be consistent with the pathways to net zero set out by the Scottish Government.
Expressions of interest are being invited from 11 September 2023 until 3 November 2023 after which proposals will be assessed and a selection made by the end of the year.
The following case study showcases SFC-backed developments to meet net zero targets.
Solar Photovoltaic Development at Eden Campus – St Andrews University
The Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Development at Eden Campus is part of ambitious plans by the University of St Andrews to meet net zero targets, contribute to a just transition from fossil fuels, and take a leading role in driving a successful local and national economy.
The one-megawatt ground solar photovoltaic (PV) development – backed by the Scottish Funding Council and supported by the Vacant & Derelict Land Fund from the Scottish Government and Fife Council – will provide electricity to the campus. This move further reduces the University’s overall carbon footprint by approximately 5%. This is the equivalent of 11 tons of carbon dioxide per year. A real time performance system has been installed and daily outputs and carbon savings are recorded.
With a planned extension of its district heating network – which already pipes hot water from its award-winning £25 million biomass plant to 48 University buildings and 3,000 student rooms in St Andrews – and the solar farm, the expectation is that the Eden Campus will be a carbon-neutral working environment within the next five years.
In addition to providing power to Walter Bower House and other buildings on the campus, the electrical supply will be utilised by electric vehicle charging points and the installation of battery storage.
The ground solar project now provides electricity to Eden Campus, supporting the existing biomass district heating facility at the Campus. Further rooftop solar panels are currently being installed in a new dry laboratory on the Campus and a second phase of rooftop solar panels are planned for next year on Eden Mill’s distillery and the University’s energy centre.
The results of the UK-wide National Student Survey, one of the largest of its kind in the world, have been published this week. The survey covers a range of factors related to students’ academic experience, including the teaching on their course; assessment and feedback; and how well courses are organised.
Students responding to this year’s survey experienced significant disruption throughout their course, including covid lockdown measures and, more recently, industrial action affecting teaching and assessments. This is reflected in the overall satisfaction result at a Scottish level where this year’s figure of 77.1% remains below pre-covid figures.
Looking ahead to the next academic year, figures released by university admissions service, UCAS, show the number of Scots accepted for places at Scottish universities is the third highest on record. There was also an increase to 15.1% of applicants from Scotland’s most deprived communities gaining a place at university.
There was further good news for Scottish students as the proportion of Scots accepted to their first-choice university reached 64%, another record high.
Further information of the National Student Survey is available from the Office for Students website and the UCAS figures can be found here.