Welcome news for the HE sector today with the confirmation by the UK government of our return to Erasmus+. You can read our response on our website: www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/erasmus/

Later this afternoon the Scottish Parliament will consider the Education, Children and Young People committee report on Widening Access to higher education. Some of the report's key recommendations echo our own calls, including a unique learner number and targeted support for WA.

We welcome the Scottish Government's announcement of the Offshore Wind Priorities and Action Plan, reinforcing the essential role universities play in delivering the skills needed for Scotland’s energy transition. Read more below⬇️ www.gov.scot/news/scotlan...

Hello Bluesky! 👋 We’re excited to join the conversation. Follow along for updates, insights and opportunities across international higher education. 🌍🎓

🎉Congratulations to Professor Mairi Watson who will take on the role of Principal at @glasgowcaledonian.bsky.social on 1 February! Look forward to working with you in this new role.

🥳Congratulations to Professor Edwards who will take on the role of Principal at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social from 1 November! We look forward to continuing to work with you within your new role.

Today @heriotwattuni.bsky.social hosted a memorial in celebration of the life of Sir Geoff Palmer, former Chancellor of the University and renowned scientist and humanitarian. The memorial reflected on the life, work and legacy of Sir Geoff who inspired so many & will be sorely missed by all

Great to meet new HE and FE Minister @benmacpherson.bsky.social and to hear of his support of Minister Dey's ambition for graduate apprenticeships in the TET Bill. The Bill's transfer of powers will allow for greater agility for skills & growth. Read more⬇️ tinyurl.com/2vy5ek5n

🆕Scotland's first national innovation week is here! This week is a celebration of Scotland’s world-leading innovation, of which universities are key players. Find out more about what's going on this week below⬇️ innovationweek.campaign.gov.scot

🌟How a partnership between 5 Scottish unis is helping to remove barriers for med-tech ideas to reach patients. See more: loom.ly/b-SiLqo #DegreesOfImpact @dundee.ac.uk @edinburgh-uni.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social @robertgordonuni.bsky.social @heriotwattuni.bsky.social @uniscot.bsky.social

🆕📅Scotland's National Innovation week is almost here, starting on Monday 22 September! During Innovation week, we'll be sharing some key facts about innovation at Scotland's universities, stay tuned...

A warm welcome to our new member, Professor Stephen McArthur who today takes on the Principal role at @unistrathclyde.bsky.social 👏. We look forward to working with you in your new role.

🆕📚A record number of Scottish young people have secured a place at university‼️Very welcome news on SQA results day. Read more on our website⬇️ www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/sqa25/

Good luck to all students receiving exam results on Tuesday! 🤞 If you have questions about your funding application, SAAS can help advise. ⬇️Book a place on their free Exam Results drop in session www.tickettailor.com/events/stude...

‼️Today, Professor James Miller, Principal of @uniwestscotland.bsky.social officially becomes our Convener!🎉 We are looking forward to working closely with Professor Miller over the next two years. Read more on our website⬇️ www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/convener25/

📰🆕The heads of Scotland's five medical schools have co-authored a piece highlighting the quiet crisis facing clinical research in Scotland. You can read the full piece below on our website⬇️ www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/clinicalacad...

🆕📰Prosper has launched a policy blueprint focused on unlocking growth. Some recommendations include setting up a review of HE funding and committing to 10-year funding for research & development and support innovation. Read the full blueprint⤵️ universities-scotland.ac.uk/scotblueprint/

🚨‼️Students, don't forget to apply for your student funding through SAAS by 30 June to guarantee you receive your funding in time for your course starting‼️

✍️ Today we have published two documents to help learners applying to university in Scotland: a Guarantee of Fairness and Support for Disabled Applicants guide. www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/publications...

Today we were at the Scottish Parliament for the Colleges and Universities Cross-Party Group where we heard from Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the @scotfundcouncil.bsky.social. A fantastic and insightful presentation and discussion from members👏

We'd like to thank Susan Stewart who retires as Director of @ouscotland.bsky.social this week for all your hard work over the last 9 years for the sector and for Universities Scotland! It has been a pleasure to work with you within your roles at US and OUiS, we wish you all the best for the future!

🆕📢Today we are delighted to announce that Professor James Miller, Principal at @uniwestscotland.bsky.social has been elected as our next Convener, taking up the role from 1 August 2025. Read more on our website⬇️ universities-scotland.ac.uk/convener25/

🆕This week the Interface Online Knowledge Exchange Awards took place where institutions all across Scotland won awards for their fantastic work in net zero, social enterprise and many other categories. This is a fantastic achievement for our members, congrats to all!🎉

🆕New data on university students out today for academic year 2023/24 confirms the fall in international numbers as experienced by universities across Scotland and the UK, falling by 9,380 compared to 2022/23. (1/4)

🙌Brilliant news from Abertay University being ranked as the top International School for video game design. A very well deserved achievement! Read more on this on Abertay's website⬇️ www.abertay.ac.uk/news/2025/ab...

🆕Today we held our breakfast reception for Scottish MPs to discuss the role of Scottish universities across a wide range of UK wide policy areas

Thanks to @graemedey.bsky.social and @kaukabstewart.bsky.social who met with international students from @edinburghnapier.bsky.social yesterday on their experience studying and living in Scotland, navigating student visas into the UK and their hopes to work in Scotland after graduation.

Join us this Saturday morning at the @scottishlabour.bsky.social Conference where we will be discussing the essential role universities play in the provision of high-level education, skills, and experience to support our existing and next generation workforce.

🆕🤝Earlier this week, we took our first delegation to Brussels where we met with a wide range of European partners and reinforced our commitment to working together on shared priorities between Scotland and Europe.

Great to see so many Scottish universities shortlisted for the 2025 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards across a wide range of categories! 👇read more below to find out more about those shortlisted interface-online.org.uk/news/scottis...

Unexpected & welcome news! £5.8m to help unis in the teachers pension & NHS schemes meet costs. This reverses the 24/25 cut as employer contributions went ⬆️ from 23% to 26% - with moderns worst affected. Great to see resource go back in. 🤞it's baselined. shorturl.at/mIuAQ

🆕Have your say on what’s needed to build on Scotland's economic prosperity through @prosperscot.bsky.social's Blueprint survey live now. It’s 5 quick questions ⬇️ prosper.scot/innovation/p...

Our 2025 programme is open for applications! We’re on the lookout for 100 future founders from across Scotland's #universities ready to transform their research & innovation into impactful #businesses. Apply now to unlock the right skills, tools & connections to make it happen convergechallenge.com

We are pleased to see the Education, Children and Young People committee at Holyrood will be running a short inquiry into Widening Access to Higher Education, one of our key asks from last years #40Faces campaign. We welcome the opportunity to give evidence next month.

Recognition from @johnswinney.bsky.social of the role Scotland’s universities play in attracting highly skilled talent to support our economy & our communities. Changes to the migration system could enhance that contribution for the benefit of all. @graemedey.bsky.social @jennygilruth.bsky.social

Today @johnswinney.bsky.social set out his aspirations to work with the UK Government to develop migration policy that would help to support Scotland’s future workforce and population needs, thereby boosting economic prosperity. Read more on our website⬇️ www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/fmspeechgla/

We've had a host of new followers today 👋 For anyone interested in HE in Scotland we have a Scottish HE & Stakeholders starter pack which we will add to as required which should help get you started 🤓 go.bsky.app/9ZHkvCq

Pleasure to be at @srucnews.bsky.social for the launch of the vertical farm today. This will be a valuable research asset which will address challenges around food production & food security of crops. It will benefit students, farmers and address key Government priorities.

The UK Government has today launched its AI and opportunities action plan. Responding to this, our Director @clairemcpherson.bsky.social has detailed the opportunities for collaboration between the UK Government and HE sector. Read our full response on our website⬇️ universities-scotland.ac.uk/aiap/

🗣️Great to see @audreynicollsnp.bsky.social highlighting the importance and contribution of international students to Scotland and its economy, contributing between £4-6 billion since 2019.

🆕ICYMI: Yesterday the Scottish Parliament's Education Committee held its session on budget scrutiny following the publication of the @scottishgovernment.bsky.social draft budget in December.

Huge congratulations to Martin Boyle. Everyone at Universities Scotland is looking forward to working with Martin in his new role. Until then, Susan's tremendous leadership and invaluable contribution to the sector in Scotland continues.

Congratulations to Martin Boyle who takes up the role of Director of the Open University in Scotland (OUiS) on 8 April👏. With thanks to Susan Stewart, current Director of the OUiS for her hard work over the last nine years, continuing until Spring this year.

Welcome back to the Scottish sector Professor Rigby! We are delighted to have you join us and look forward to working together in your new role.

🆕🗣️ Susan Stewart, Director of the OUiS appeared on the Sunday Show discussing the unique demographic of the OUiS and our Director @clairemcpherson.bsky.social also discussed the future and sustainability of Scotland's universities. 🔊Listen here (from 1:05:40)⬇️ www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

This year's UCAS figures show a record number of Scottish students securing a place at university, increasing by 7%. There has also been an 11% increase in acceptances from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland to all UK universities - a record high 🎉 Huge congratulations to all.

We've responded to the SG's budget for universities. There are some aspects in the settlement to welcome but overall it's a real-terms cut to our resource budget and falls well short of meeting our funding pressures. Read our full response here: shorturl.at/af3ig

🆕🗣️Our Deputy Director (Policy) Lesley Jackson spoke at the Universities UK Research and Innovation conference yesterday, discussing the multifaceted contribution our universities make to local and regional growth across Scotland. #UUKResearch

🆕A new report from Social Market Foundation has recommended that care experienced uni applicants in England who meet minimum entry requirements should receive a guaranteed offer, which has already been happening in Scotland since 2019. Read the full report⬇️ tinyurl.com/ry9pbj6p

Congratulations to our members who won awards at the @timeshighered.bsky.social awards, Uni of Dundee for outstanding entrepreneurial university, Uni of Edinburgh for outstanding library team of the year and Uni of Stirling for outstanding marketing and communications team of the year👏 #THEAwards