A strong future for universities starts with hard data on the here and now

Within days of this edition being published, the Future Framework for Universities is expected to issue its first major output: an analysis of the funding gap facing Scotland’s universities.

The Framework and the funding gap analysis are jointly owned by Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government. In our roles as Co-Commissioners of the Framework, the Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, Minister Macpherson, and I will receive the report from Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli. At the time of writing, the precise conclusions have not yet been fully revealed. However, given the financial pressures that are evident across institutions throughout Scotland, and indeed the wider UK, it would be surprising if the report did not identify significant challenges facing the sector.

It is important to acknowledge the significance of the work undertaken so far. I am grateful to the Scottish Government for engaging in this process with the sector. There are no straightforward solutions to the questions we face, and all parties entered this process recognising that difficult choices and complex trade-offs lie ahead. Establishing a shared understanding of the scale and nature of the challenge was always likely to be one of the most demanding stages of the process.

That is precisely why this first phase matters so much. Effective policymaking begins with a clear assessment of the evidence. The funding gap analysis is not an end point; it is the foundation upon which the rest of the Framework will be built. By quantifying the pressures affecting university teaching, research and physical infrastructure, we are establishing a common evidence base from which future decisions can be made.

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This represents an important moment. For the first time in recent history, the sector and government will have a shared baseline from which to consider the scale of the financial challenge and the response required. Reaching agreement on the facts is an essential precondition for meaningful reform. Without that shared understanding, there can be little confidence that subsequent policy decisions will address the underlying issues.

Equally important is to avoid the temptation to rush to conclusions prematurely. The publication of the analysis marks the beginning of a wider programme of work rather than its culmination. The subsequent phases of the Framework will focus on identifying sustainable options for the future, informed by evidence and a long-term perspective.

The broad political support that has been evident for the Framework to date will be crucial to its success. Throughout 2025, and again during the development of party manifestos, there was recognition across the political spectrum that Scotland’s university funding model requires serious and urgent consideration. Universities are national assets. They educate future generations, drive research and innovation, support public services and contribute substantially to economic growth, the development of communities and international competitiveness. Their long-term sustainability is therefore an issue of national importance rather than short term gain. 

Looking ahead, the Framework will increasingly focus on the future conditions within which universities will operate. We must consider demographic change, evolving patterns of learner demand, the needs of employers and the accelerating impact of technological transformation. Alongside this, universities themselves will continue to engage openly with questions of efficiency, effectiveness and institutional transformation. The sector has a responsibility to demonstrate how resources are used to maximum effect in pursuit of public value.

As Parliament returns and a new academic year begins, there is a renewed sense of purpose across Scottish public life. The publication of this first report will undoubtedly prompt difficult discussions, and rightly so. However, I remain optimistic about the collaborative approach that has characterised the Framework thus far. By beginning with a shared understanding of the facts, we create the conditions for informed debate and durable solutions. That is the best foundation on which to secure a strong and sustainable future for Scotland’s universities.

This article is sponsored by Universities Scotland

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