University sets out manifesto ahead of 2024 General Election – Scottish Business News

Robert Gordon University (RGU) has launched its own manifesto that highlights the University’s demands of the next UK Government and the key issues faced by higher education.

RGU’s Manifesto for the 2024 UK General Election centres around asks of the UK Government to ensure universities can support economic growth and the transformation of both individuals and communities.

It focuses on four distinct themes: learning, teaching and the student experience; research and innovation; economic development; and immigration policy.

Recognising that higher education is a devolved matter, the University will continue to actively engage with the Scottish Government, Scottish Funding Council, and elected officials from all parties to highlight the significant funding challenges experienced by higher education in Scotland.

Professor Steve Olivier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Gordon University said: “While education policy and funding responsibility is devolved to the Scottish Government and Parliament, key policy areas reserved to Westminster have an influential bearing on university operations in Scotland and the ability of our universities to meet the needs of people and place.

“RGU’s manifesto makes clear the importance of government fully recognising, in both policymaking and spending, the contributions that higher education institutions in Scotland make towards building a prosperous nation.”

The manifesto’s themes focus on key policy areas that are important to RGU and the sector more broadly, including:

• Ensuring that the wide-ranging contributions universities make are fully recognised in government policy and spending decisions;
• That UK-wide research funding programmes better reflect the research needs and business base of Scotland;
• Maintaining the Graduate Route Visa to ensure that the UK remains internationally attractive to international students; and
• That regions including the North East of Scotland benefit from place-based UK investment.

RGU makes wide-ranging and valuable contributions to the North East, and to Scotland as a whole, through the University’s teaching, research and enterprise activities.

While pushing for key UK policy, the University is and will continue to engage with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council and with parliamentarians on the significant funding challenges being experienced by Scotland’s universities.

The RGU General Election Manifesto can be read in its entirety via the RGU website.