Ministers to proposed higher education bill amendments

The Scottish government has said it will move to strengthen legislation aimed at improving the inclusivity and transparency of higher education governance.

Ministers plan to lodge amendments at stage 2 of the Parliament’s consideration of the Higher Education Governance (Scotland) Bill, including the following:

Education minister Angela Constance confirmed the moves in her opening speech in the bill’s stage 1 debate. She said: “We want every voice on campus to be heard and for the university sector to be more open and transparent.

“The Higher Education Bill aims to do just that, without affecting universities’ autonomy or the current role of rectors in those universities that have one, and presents no threat to their financial wellbeing.

“However, I have said from the very start of this process that we would listen to stakeholders and interested parties and we have done so.

“I signalled before Christmas that we would consider some amendments to mitigate the perceived risk around reclassification by the ONS and can today confirm that they will be brought forward at committee when stage 2 takes place next month.”

She added: “I do not agree with the assessments made on potential reclassification or the implications for charitable status, and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has also been clear that it did not consider the Bill a risk to charitable status. However, this move will ensure any lingering doubts about either reclassification or charitable status are alleviated.”