Found: them subject to the conditions (as varied by Ordinance No. 141 made by the Commissioners under the Universities

Found: them subject to the conditions (as varied by Ordinance No. 141 made by the Commissioners under the Universities

Found: Professor Jim Gallagher [IGR0011 ] Science and Scotland Science Advisory Council [SS002 9] Universities

Found: Q317 Wendy Chamberlain: We are just trying to get to the bottom of what Professor Boswell from Universities

Found: I know there has been dialogue going on with them and Universities Scotland, and the entire sector

Found: I know there has been dialogue going on with them and Universities Scotland, and the entire sector

Found: them subject to the conditions (as varied by Ordinance No. 141 made by the Commissioners under the Universities

Found: them subject to the conditions (as varied by Ordinance No. 141 made by the Commissioners under the Universities

Found: Scottish universities, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and our event partner hosts – Universities

Found: based on fully informed advice and evidence, such as that provided by the University of Edinburgh and Universities

Found: In November 2023, Universities Scotland submitted a paper to the ECYP Committee on its response to the

Found: Scotland and engaged 14 of them in partnership

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set out its expectations of universities regarding any minimum service levels during periods of industrial action, under the UK Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

Answered by Dey, Graeme - Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills wrote to Universities Scotland on 9 February to confirm that the Scottish Government will not be responding to any consultations on minimum service levels in education services, or providing assistance with the development of any regulations that may arise from such consultations.

The Scottish Government remains strongly opposed to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and any associated secondary legislation which affects devolved services. This legislation seeks to undermine legitimate trade union activity and does not respect the Scottish Government’s Fair Work principles. Instead we will continue to encourage university employers to work with trade unions to reach fair and reasonable settlements, respecting the legitimate interest of workers, not seeking to curb their right to strike.

Under the Act it is a matter for individual employers in affected sectors to decide whether to issue work notices to trade unions specifying the workforce required to meet minimum service levels for a particular strike period. The Scottish Government has no intention of directing any employers within their control to issue work notices.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government which stakeholders it has engaged with regarding its response to the review of purpose-built student accommodation, and when.

Answered by Dey, Graeme - Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans

The Purpose Built Student Accommodation Review Steering Group, which comprised representation from the Association of Student Residential Accommodation (ASRA), National Union of Students (NUS), Universities Scotland, College and University Business Managers (CUBO), Scottish Property Federation (SPF), private PBSA providers, individual universities, university student representative organisations and Unipol/National Codes, were fully involved in the formulation of the 11 recommendations which have been fully accepted by Ministers. The answer to question S6W-25244 on 22 February 2024 provides details of the recommendations.

The Review Steering Group will be reconvened to determine how best to take forward those recommendations that are to be progressed jointly with or by partners.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to support Scotland's "internationally recognised cultural and higher education sectors" to their full potential, as set out in its publication, Scotland's International Strategy: Delivering for Scotland.

Answered by Robertson, Angus - Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture

As set out in the International Strategy, we want to build on Scotland’s long history of excellence in the cultural and higher education sectors. This is why we have published a standalone International Higher Education Strategy. Universities Scotland and Colleges Scotland were engaged in the development of the strategy which outlines how we will work collaboratively with the higher education sector to achieve our joint ambitions:

• attract global students, staff, and researchers to help diversify our international student population and support them to maximise their contribution to Scotland.
• as an outward looking, inclusive nation that values our international education capabilities and export potential, we will work with universities and colleges, to maximise our social, educational and economic contribution globally.
• as a world leader in international education, research and knowledge exchange, deepen our global collaborations and engagements .

We have also committed to publishing an International Culture Strategy, which will build on the work that the Scottish Government already does to showcase the sector and facilitate opportunities for international collaboration .