Hansard

I apologise to Jim Eadie and the other members in the chamber that I will not be able to stay for the remainder of the speeches due to another engagement.

I, too, thank Jim Eadie for bringing the motion to the chamber tonight. I am proud to join my colleagues in congratulating the University of Edinburgh on climbing to number 17 in the QS World University Rankings. That is a fantastic achievement for the university and it goes some way towards recognising the exceptional quality of its teaching and research activities. It also highlights Scotland’s well-deserved place in the world as a leading centre for education.

The University of Edinburgh is one of Scotland’s ancient educational institutions. Founded in 1583 following the granting of a royal charter by James VI, it has provided Scotland with more than 400 years of exemplary standards in education.

In the early 18th century, during the age of enlightenment, the city of Edinburgh became known as a major intellectual centre, thanks to its outstanding university, which of course was central in Scotland’s enlightenment.

Over the years, many esteemed scholars and academics have walked through the university’s doors. Its impressive collection of alumni includes a plethora of famous names, such as Charles Darwin, David Hume, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alexander Graham Bell and Sir Walter Scott—to name but a few.

Today the university is home to an impressive array of leading international researchers, who provide a first-class standard of teaching to their many students. The school of medicine is particularly renowned and was ranked first in the United Kingdom in the most recent research assessment exercise results. The university has also been praised for its excellence in veterinary medicine, linguistics, art, chemistry and mathematics.

The university is at the forefront of research and development in, for example, the life sciences and renewable energy. Support for universities is therefore key to Scotland’s future. That is why the Scottish Government invests more than £1 billion a year in higher education and has allocated an additional £13.8 million directly to fund research at our universities. By investing in our world-leading facilities, we are building the foundations of a better and more secure Scotland for years to come.

The University of Edinburgh plays a major role in that regard and it is essential that we provide the necessary support to ensure that it continues to do so. Its ranking as one of the world’s top 20 universities will not only enhance Scotland’s status on the international stage but help the university to attract more of the most talented and ambitious students from all over the globe.

Edinburgh receives a high volume of international applicants, but I am proud that more than 40 per cent of the undergraduates that it welcomes come from Scotland and that a further 29 per cent come from the rest of the UK. It is significant that 74 per cent of undergraduates come from state schools and colleges, which provides some assurance that the university, despite its prestige and international standing, remains accessible to local students from all backgrounds.

The University of Edinburgh provides jobs and prospects to thousands of citizens and plays an important role in fuelling our economy. Through its research and innovation programme, it promotes entrepreneurship and supports the creation of new businesses. In 2012-13 the university helped to create 35 new companies—it has consistently created new companies over the past four years. That is a major contribution to the Scottish economy, and I am grateful to the university for continuing to devote resources to such an important part of its work.

It is clear that the university offers Scotland a great deal. I cannot thank and praise its staff and students enough for their efforts in helping their university to achieve such a prestigious accolade in the QS World University Rankings. I am an incredibly proud Scot and I think that we can take much pride in our country, including in our reputation for quality education and research—thanks, in no small part, to the University of Edinburgh. I am sure that members will join me in congratulating the university again on its remarkable achievement.

17:38