Higher education

Scotland has a distinctive education system, from nursery through primary and secondary schooling to the tertiary sector. The third sector, encompassing higher education (HE), is also part of a wider UK system that has allowed distinctiveness to develop and, at the same time, been characterised by cross-border flows involving academics and students. Devolution has provided an opportunity for universities to become more distinctive in Britain. Divergence has been most marked between Scotland and England. A report published yesterday, Universities UK, which represents principals and vice-chancellors, examines the impact of devolution on HE and how trends might develop.