JOINT FUTURE THINKING TASKFORCE ON UNIVERSITIES: MEETING 4
10.30 to 12.30 Perth Suite, Carlton Hotel, Edinburgh
AGENDA
10.30 to 10.35 1. Welcome
10.35 to 11.05 2. NUS Scotland presentation and discussion
11.05 to 11.45 3. Possible model(s) presentation and discussion
11.45 to 12.10 4. Stocktake of taskforce's progress to date
12.10 to 12.20 5. Any other matters arising since last meeting:
- STUC appearance at meeting 5
- Stakeholder conference
- Other
12.20 to 12.30 6. Communications
NOTE OF MEETING
Present: taskforce
Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
Sir Muir Russell, Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of University of Glasgow
Bernard King, Deputy Convener of Universities Scotland and Principal of University of Abertay Dundee
Pamela Gillies, Principal of Glasgow Caledonian University
David Caldwell, Director of Universities Scotland
Seona Reid, Director of Glasgow School of Art
John McClelland, Chair of Scottish Funding Council
Stephen Noon, Special Adviser
Mark Batho, Director of Lifelong Learning
Stephen Kerr, Head of HE and Learner Support
Claire Woodward-Nutt, HE Futures and Research (Secretariat)
Present: NUS Scotland (agenda items 1 and 2 only)
James Alexander, President
Gail Edwards, Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Apologies
Sir Tim O'Shea, Principal of University of Edinburgh
1. Welcome
1. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning welcomed members of the taskforce to their third meeting. She also welcomed James Alexander and Gail Edwards of NUS Scotland.
2. NUS Scotland presentation and discussion
2. James clarified the issues highlighted in his paper which covered:
- Students in a lifelong learning culture
- A diverse student population
- Students at the heart of their learning
- Students as skilled graduates
- Future funding of the sector
- Learning for learning's sake
3. Taskforce members welcomed the paper as setting out a range of issues. Comments included:
- The trend of a postgraduate qualification becoming more widely expected was significantly driven by market demand and was likely to increase in future. It was important to encourage wider and clearer understanding by employers of what degree qualifications mean
- Qualifications should be seen in three dimensions so that learners were encouraged not only to work towards a higher qualification on the SCQF, but where appropriate to consider studying for a qualification which might be at a lower SCQF level, but which was the most relevant for their current needs, for example, completing a college diploma after a degree. We should avoid stereotyping colleges as vocational and universities as academic. The focus should be more on the learning process and on the qualification, than on the institution
- While Scotland compares favourably with England in many measures, we lag behind in terms of numbers of postgraduate students
4. The Cabinet Secretary thanked James and Gail for giving up their time to present their paper to the taskforce. Some of the issues raised should be covered in the taskforce's final report in due course.
3. Possible model(s) presentation and discussion
5. The taskforce considered progress towards developing a new set of roles and relationships between the Government, universities and the Funding Council. This was an attempt to reflect the areas of the seven models discussed at the last meeting that had widest support. It was agreed that consensus was beginning to emerge, although some areas of clarification were required.
6. It was important to value the wide contribution universities make to Scottish culture and society and to recognise their diversity and autonomy while developing a framework within which the contribution they make to Scotland's strategic economic objectives can be enhanced. Support for adaptive capacity to bring about transformational change and rewarding success were seen as important elements of any future arrangements. It was essential that, whatever new arrangements might emerge, the right resources were provided to the right areas to support the university sector.
7. The taskforce agreed that it would be helpful to use one example of an activity, such as international engagement or employability, to help understand the consequences of any changes to existing support arrangements. John McClelland agreed to consider this and report back to the next meeting.
Action: John McClelland to describe example in context of discussions for next meeting
8. Stephen Kerr and David Caldwell agreed to develop and refine what had been discussed for the next meeting in May. Stephen would also draft a framework of headings and bullet points for a possible taskforce report as the basis for the next meeting. This would cover not only progress that had been made towards developing a new set of roles and relationships, but also the big challenges that had been raised in discussions over the last few meetings.
9. The taskforce would aim to agree its report for wider dissemination at its meeting in June. Beyond this, input would be sought from:
- Council of Economic Advisers 13 June
- Scottish Cabinet
- Stakeholder conference in mid to late August
10. Universities would also consider how they engage with their individual governing bodies in June. The taskforce would reconvene in September to review their report in the light of outputs from all of these discussions.
4. Stocktake of taskforce's progress to date
11. It was agreed that the report as described above should address the remit and work programme.
5. Any other matters arising since last meeting
12. The Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the STUC would be providing the taskforce with a paper and presenting it at their next meeting in May.
6. Communications
13. It was agreed that the agenda, note of meeting and NUS Scotland paper should be released on the SG website.
NUS Scotland paper