Universities Scotland, the representative body of Scotland's 21 universities and higher education colleges, today launched a campaign to promote the essential contribution higher education makes to the culture of Scotland.
Higher education develops new thinking in Scotland and enables the creative arts to flourish. The campaign aims to put this role as high up the public agenda as the economic role of higher education. The campaign is being supported by leading Scottish cultural figures such as Edouardo Paolozzi, Edwin Morgan, Alasdair Gray, Alan Cumming, Lisa Milne, John Hannah, Daniela Nardini, Kirsty Wark, Iain Banks, Elizabeth Blackadder, Bill Patterson, Ian Rankin and James MacMillan.
The campaign begins with the launch of two documents. Creating Scotland showcases the range of figures who have come out of the higher education sector in Scotland and gone on to make a major impact on Scottish culture. A Space to Create outlines the wide-ranging contribution the sector makes to thinking and the creative arts in Scotland and puts forward some issues for further discussion.
The launch will be followed up by the establishment of an expert group from within the sector to develop research and policy which will enhance even further the sector's cultural role.
Launching the campaign, Professor Seona Reid, Director of the Glasgow School of Art said
"We have to recognise that the contribution higher education makes to thinking and creativity in Scotland is every bit as important as its contribution to the economy. If we treat universities as if they are only economic development agencies, Scotland's standing in the world and its understanding of itself will be harmed.
The launch of this campaign is the fist step in making people realise how important higher education is in creating Scotland."