Welcoming the First Futures Framework Report on the Higher Education Funding Gap

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, A Funding Gap Analysis of Scotland’s University Sector, which was co-produced by Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government and led by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli; notes with concern the finding that there is a £200 million funding gap and that the funding received by the university sector from both public and private sources is insufficient to sustain its core teaching and research activities; recognises that the report represents the first step in the co-design of a new framework for the financial sustainability and success of universities to 2045; understands that this report and the wider Future Framework process bring together the Scottish Government, universities, trade unions, student representatives, funding bodies and independent experts to consider the future of universities in Scotland, and encourages continued cross-party support for the Future Framework process through to the publication of its final report in early 2027 and implementation thereafter, to ensure both the success and financial sustainability of the sector.