A Strategic Analysis of the Scottish Higher Education Sector’s Distinctive Assets

A Study Commissioned by British Council Scotland

This report provides an account of the distinctive assets of the Scottish higher education sector. The research included interviews with senior staff (academic and administrative) at member institutions of Universities Scotland, Scottish education-related organisations and international education professionals.

Five distinctive assets were identified: a joined up and collaborative sector, helped by its modest size and a Scottish ethos of education as a public good; quality assurance and credit recognition; graduate employability and employment; innovative structures and pedagogy and finally research impact.