Million Plus

Modern universities are a key driver of economic growth in Scotland, Professor Liz Bacon, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University, and a member of the MillionPlus Executive, will tell a fringe event at the Scottish National Party Conference today (16 October), calling for the government to harness the power of these institutions to build “a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all of Scotland's citizens.”

Professor Bacon will outline the deep roots that modern universities have in their communities and the part they play in delivering skills across Scotland:

“Scottish moderns are, and always have been, closely in tune with the needs of their communities, be that at local, national or international level. All have a long history of providing the skills, training, R&D and innovation support that industry requires to succeed, and all play a vital role in creating the pipeline of graduate talent that businesses draw from, as we collectively drive economic growth.”

Citing MillionPlus research, Professor Bacon will outline the vast contribution that modern universities make to the Scottish economy, and how their qualities mean they can thoroughly engage with emerging industries, positioning them at the cutting edge.

Professor Bacon will say:

“A recent publication by Million Plus, showed that modern universities contribute over £1.2bn to their regional economies every year; are responsible for over 9000 jobs in Scotland; and account for 48% of all Scottish graduate startups. That’s an incredible impact.

“…One notable aspect of modern universities' involvement in emerging sectors is their agility and adaptability. Our institutions are well-equipped to respond quickly to the changing needs of industries and have the flexibility to develop and offer programs and research initiatives that align with the most current and cutting-edge technologies and trends.”

Video game design is one such industry and Abertay’s School of Design and Informatics is instrumental in the continued success of the Dundee video games cluster, which has attracted “£400m in inward investment since 2019, resulting in a 164% increase in direct GVA.”

The university’s cyberQuarter has quickly become Scotland’s leading cybersecurity research and development centre and is now home to 16 industry partners, bringing numerous jobs to Dundee and solidifying the city’s place as Scotland's cyber capital, driving economic growth.

Professor Bacon will close by emphasizing the powerful role that modern universities can play in shaping the future of Scotland:

“…Our commitment to innovation, skills development and industry collaboration drives economic growth, cultivates talent, and makes positive change in society.

“We need to work together with government to harness the full potential of our universities to build a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all of Scotland's citizens.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Dan Blows on 020 3927 2916 or email press@millionplus.ac.uk
2. MillionPlus is the Association for Modern Universities in the UK, and the voice of 21st century higher education. We champion, promote and raise awareness of the essential role and impact of modern universities in the UK’s world-leading higher education sector. More information can be found at www.millionplus.ac.uk
3. What are modern universities? Modern universities are long established centres of higher education in their communities with roots that stretch back decades, if not centuries. Many gained university title following legislation agreed by parliament in 1992. They make up almost half of the UK university sector with over a million students studying at modern universities every year.
4. Modern universities: facts and stats
    

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MillionPlus SNP conference event
16 October 2023

Good afternoon, everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here today and many thanks to colleagues at MillionPlus for organising this opportunity to focus on the important and diverse range of work carried out by Scotland’s modern universities.

Scottish moderns are, and always have been, closely in tune with the needs of their communities, be that at local, national or international level. All have a long history of providing the skills, training, R&D and innovation support that industry requires to succeed, and all play a vital role in creating the pipeline of graduate talent that businesses draw from, as we collectively drive economic growth.

Overview of Abertay

My own institution, Abertay University in Dundee (and I’m sure you’ll forgive the short plug here!) is an example of a modern, dynamic, post-92 university that serves the needs of its local community while also retaining a global outlook. Like many moderns we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality teaching, internationally-excellent research with real-world impact and a first-rate student experience.

What I’d argue sets Abertay apart from others is perhaps our strong focus on widening access and college articulation combined with our small size. Having only around 4,000 students on campus, puts us in a unique position of being able to offer a small, friendly and community-focused approach to our work. T this is something we see reflected year after year in measures such as the latest National Student Survey 2023, where we currently rank inside the UK top 10 for satisfaction with teaching and are Scotland’s top modern university for overall satisfaction. We also ensure that our research is laser-focused on industry problems and, in many cases, it is our industry partners who help shape and drive the work that our researchers engage in.

Modern universities’ role in driving economic growth

In our rapidly evolving world, the role of modern universities has never been more vital. Universities like Abertay are not just centres of learning; we are engines of innovation, hubs of social change, and catalysts for economic growth.

A recent publication by MillionPlus, showed that modern universities contribute over £1.2bn to their regional economies every year; are responsible for over 9000 jobs in Scotland; and account for 48% of all Scottish graduate startups. That’s an incredible impact.

All universities play a pivotal role in equipping our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an ever-changing job market, but modern universities in particular are at the forefront of cultivating skills that are instrumental in Scotland's economic growth.

Additionally, moderns are at the forefront of emerging sectors and the industries of the future. Together, we educate 97% of games students (which I’ll come on to in just a moment!), 40% of computer science students and 73% of software engineering students.

One notable aspect of modern universities' involvement in emerging sectors is their agility and adaptability. Our institutions are well-equipped to respond quickly to the changing needs of industries and have the flexibility to develop and offer programs and research initiatives that align with the most current and cutting-edge technologies and trends.

To help illustrate this, I’d like to give two examples of how my own institution is driving economic growth in our local region and beyond.

Transformation of Scotland’s video games industry

Dundee's video games industry has gained international acclaim and recognition, thanks in no small part to the pioneering work done at Abertay over many years. Our School of Design and Informatics is instrumental in the continued success of the Dundee video games cluster, which has attracted £400m in inward investment since 2019, resulting in a 164% increase in direct GVA.

Abertay not only provides a talent pipeline to existing companies but also nurturers graduates who establish their own successful studios and create their own award-winning games.

Abertay cyberQuarter and inclusive growth

The second example I want to touch on is the Abertay cyberQuarter, Scotland’s leading cybersecurity research and development centre.

Jointly funded by the Scottish and UK Governments through the Tay Cities Deal, this innovative hub is based in the heart of our campus. Since opening in June last year, the cyberQuarter has become the new home for 16 industry partners, including the NHS National Services Scotland's cybersecurity division, TechScaler, the Scotland 5G Centre, and Sophos, to name a few. Their presence has not only brought numerous jobs to Dundee but also solidified the city as Scotland's cyber capital, driving economic growth.

Both these examples highlight the significant contribution modern universities can make to the local, regional and national economy and also serve as a reminder of how such institutions can fuel the growth of Scotland's key industries of the future.

Closing

In closing, I’d like to emphasise the powerful role that modern universities can play in shaping the future of Scotland. Our commitment to innovation, skills development and industry collaboration drives economic growth, cultivates talent, and makes positive change in society.

We need to work together with government to harness the full potential of our universities to build a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future for all of Scotland's citizens.

Thank you for your attention, and I’d be happy to take any questions in the discussion that follows.