A 15-person steering group tasked with securing a sustainable and successful future for Scotland’s universities, through the Future Framework, was announced on Monday, 16 February. The Steering Group includes leaders from within universities, including Professor Penny Macbeth, Director and Principal of The Glasgow School of Art, the civil service, student and staff trade unions as well as authoritative voices from outside the sector, from key business and industry sectors and experts in economic and public policy in Scotland and internationally.
Scotland’s first ever holistic review of university funding since devolution was announced in late December as a joint initiative by the Scottish Government and Universities Scotland. The Co-Conveners and full membership of the Steering Group were announced on Monday 16 February, which follows the Group’s first meeting at the end of January. The Steering Group will drive the work of the Framework and will be the decision-making body, working to present a series of options to the next Government and Parliament in the late autumn.
The Framework is Co-Convened by both the Scottish Government and Universities Scotland, reflecting the co-ownership of the initiative:
- Professor Emerita Andrea Nolan has held leadership positions in both ancient and modern universities in Scotland, including most latterly as Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University until December 2024. Professor Nolan was elected by her peers to serve two terms as Universities Scotland’s Convener between 2016 and 2020.
- Neil Rennick is Director General, Education and Justice within the Scottish Government. He has previously served as Executive Director for the Scottish Courts Service and has held a variety of roles within the Civil Service.
The composition of the Framework’s Steering Group reflects the diversity of universities’ stakeholders, the desire to invite different perspectives, constructive challenge, and bold thinking as the Framework looks to test ideas and new policy and funding solutions for Scotland’s universities with a 20-year horizon. The Framework will operate within the parameters of a publicly funded model for undergraduate education for Scottish-domiciled students.
Commenting on her Co-Convenership role and the wider composition of the Framework’s Steering Group, Professor Emerita Andrea Nolan said:
“The task we are taking on, to secure the future of our universities for the next generation, is not easy by any means, or it would not still be a problem in need of a solution. However, 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.
“I am joined in this task by a hugely impressive group of people, prepared to give their time, energy, and expertise to work together to find a way forward that is future-proofed. Already, the shared sense of purpose we have to support one of Scotland’s national assets is incredibly motivating. We won’t always agree, but that adds to the strength and integrity of the process, so that when Government and Parliament receive the end result, they can take full confidence in it.”
In commissioning the work, Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson has chosen not to sit on the Steering Group but instead has asked senior civil servants to serve on the body, in order for it to be politically neutral in its deliberations. The Scottish Government will receive the recommendations and options in the autumn, when they will also be made public.
Mr Ben Macpherson MSP said:
“Scotland’s universities are outstanding and, in a number of ways, the sector is genuinely world-class. However, we must make sure that we continue to advance and adapt, and consider what our universities, economy, society, and learners will require in the next quarter of this century and beyond. That’s why we have commissioned this work, to look creatively, innovatively and self-critically at how we deliver higher education in the future in Scotland, so that we can continue to improve our higher education sector, make sure it is sustainable, and build on our success in a dynamic and competitive global context.
“We are undertaking this review while also emphasising our steadfast commitment to preserving free tuition for Scottish undergraduates, paid for by public funding as a collective investment in the common good of our country and the next generation.”
The voice of employers, business and industry is a vital element of the Framework’s design, as the scope includes undergraduate education, wider skills development, research and innovation, all of which are vital to support Scotland’s economic growth.
Sandy Begbie CBE, Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said:
“Scotland’s universities are a global asset for our country. It is really important that in order to attract investment into Scotland, we ensure our universities continue to compete globally and continue to support economic growth. We are all aware that the current financial position of many universities is unsustainable, which makes this review all the more important. It is important this review is carried out with pace and that it brings in truly radical thinking to ensure there are long-term solutions to ensure the future sustainability of our university sector. Nothing should be off the table.
“We have a world-class university sector that acts as a key attraction for investment and firms to come to Scotland. This review must ensure the sector continues to be world-leading well into the future.”
Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, and Steering Group member said:
“The situation universities are in is not financially sustainable. It’s good to see a supported cross-party effort to come up with recommendations that can put them on a more sustainable path. It’s a very important piece of work.”
University staff are represented on the Steering Group by both the University and College Union Scotland and Unite the Union and students are represented by NUS Scotland.
Speaking to her participation in the Framework, Mary Senior, Scotland Official for the University and College Union, said:
“Universities in Scotland are in crisis, primarily a funding crisis. The people in the sector, the students and workforce are at the front-end of that crisis, through cuts to courses and jobs, excessive workloads, and high levels of job insecurity and precarity for university staff.”
“It’s vital that we have this time to review the sector to look at what we want the sector to deliver and provide the vital resources. We are hoping that this will deliver sustainable and sufficient public funding for the sector so that it can deliver for students, for the workforce, for the economy, the public sector and society at large.”
The Steering Group will work in three phases, throughout the period of the May 2026 election, and present a concluding report to the next Scottish Government and Parliament in late autumn 2026.
The full Steering Group membership, along with profiles on all members, is included for download as a PDF.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
About Universities Scotland (US)
Universities Scotland (US) is a membership organisation working for the Principals and Directors of Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions. They develop higher education policy and campaign on issues where members have a shared interest. US represents every higher education institution in Scotland and speaks on their behalf on issues that affect Scotland’s world-class sector.
Scotland’s higher education sector is one of the best in the world. It is home to three of the world’s top 200 universities (as defined by the Times Higher World University Rankings 2025). Scotland’s sector has pioneered developments in teaching, including an ‘enhancement-led’ approach that makes students a key partner in the quality of their education. US members excel at blue-sky research, with every institution in Scotland developing some research judged to be ‘world class’ with ‘outstanding impact’. They are actively working to translate this research into businesses, the public and third sectors where it will be of benefit to others.
In teaching, every institution in Scotland has defined a set of graduate attributes. These advise what to expect from the student experience as well as signalling the holistic approach taken towards employability, which shapes Scotland’s students into global citizens, supports them to be creative, entrepreneurial and highly sought after by employers.
US believes that the sector’s diversity and autonomy are two principles that are critical to the success the sector has already achieved, and to future competitiveness.
US covers almost all aspects of higher education activity in Scotland, from teaching and employability to research and knowledge exchange, from widening access to issues of internationalisation, funding, efficiency, and governance. More recently, US has taken on a policy role in aspects of student and staff wellbeing, such as mental health and prevention of gender-based violence, where they can add value to the work of their members.
In 2021, US published a new three-year Strategic Plan which sets out how they support members to achieve their vision for higher education. 2021-24: Recovery and Renewal outlines how members can achieve the policy and funding outcomes needed to support universities to make a full contribution to an education-led, green, and inclusive economic recovery.
Higher education is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, with funding and policy decisions affecting higher education taken primarily by the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament, and Scottish Funding Council. Working closely and constructively with all three organisations is a major focus of the US’s time.
US additionally works closely with Universities UK on matters that are reserved to Westminster but directly affect universities in Scotland. The UK Research Councils and immigration policy are two key areas that are reserved to Westminster but have a cross-UK impact.
Founded in 1992, Universities Scotland is an autonomous national council of Universities UK, and they are financed by the subscription of member institutions.
Universities Scotland is a national council of Universities UK, a charity registered in England and Wales (1001127) and Scotland (SC052497). A company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales, Company No. 2517018. Registered Office: Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HQ.
About The Glasgow School of Art (GSA)
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world.
Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy delivering a European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3,500 students and staff across architecture, design, fine art, innovation and technology in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands) and a thriving Open Studio programme delivering non-degree provision to over 1,500 students annually.
