Meetings between Minister for Higher and Further Education and union representatives: FOI release

Information requested

Since September 2025, how many times has the Minister for Higher and Further Education met with representatives from (i) Unison, (ii) Unite, (iii) EIS, (iv) GMB and (v) Colleges Scotland; what the purpose of each meeting was; and who requested each meeting.

Response

I enclose a copy of all the information you requested in a document setting out each occasion that the the Minister for Higher and Further Education met with Unison, Unite, EIS, GMB and Colleges Scotland since September 2025.

Meeting/Event	Date	Purpose and Organiser
International Education Strategy Governance Group (Colleges Scotland representation) (Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Minister for Veterans)	03/09/2025	Long standing commitment chaired by the Minister for Higher and Further Education, attended by Colleges Scotland representatives – requested by Scottish Government.
Meeting with EIS, Unison, Unite and GMB (Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Minister for Veterans)	16/09/2025	A briefing session with the unions, together with student representatives regarding the Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities – requested by Universities Scotland
Meeting with Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive Officer, Colleges Scotland (Minister for Higher and Further Education, and Minister for Veterans)	18/09/2025	To discuss the budget in advance of Colleges Scotland submitting a written paper setting out the sectors’ requirements – requested by Colleges Scotland
Meeting with Colleges Scotland	02/10/2025	Early discussions around shared ambition to help college sector thrive – requested by Colleges Scotland.
Meeting with Colleges Scotland	21/10/2025	Meeting to discuss a first draft proposal/Terms of Reference for the future of the college sector requested by Colleges Scotland.
Meeting with EIS	12/11/2025	To discuss the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill next steps and any potential amendments ahead of Stage 2 requested by Scottish Government
Meeting with EIS	25/11/2025	Introductory meeting – requested by EIS
Meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and the Minister for Higher and Further Education with Trade Unions (Unison)	27/11/2025	Part of a series of meetings with Trade Unions regarding Dundee University’s recovery planning requested by Scottish Government.
Meeting with Colleges Scotland	11/12/2025	Introductory meeting – requested by Colleges Scotland
Meeting with Colleges Scotland	17/12/2025	Tripartite Alignment Group meeting – long standing regular meeting with agreement from the Minister to attend on occasion.
Ministerial roundtable on graduate Apprenticeships (Colleges Scotland representation)	07/01/2026	The Minister for Higher and Further Education chaired a graduate apprenticeship roundtable at the request of Universities Scotland.
International Education Strategy Governance Group (Colleges Scotland representation)	13/01/2026	Long standing commitment chaired by the Minister for Higher and Further Education, attended by Colleges Scotland representatives - requested by Scottish Government.
Meeting with Unison and Unite the Union	13/01/2026	Combined meeting with unions and PCS – requested by UNISON and UNITE the Union via separate correspondence.
EIS reception – Scottish Parliament	13/01/2026	Reception hosted by EIS in which the Minister attended requested by EIS.
Post-Budget meeting with Colleges Scotland	16/01/2026	To discuss the budget announcement – requested by Scottish Government.
Meeting with EIS University Lecturers’ Association (ULA)	22/01/2026	To discuss a number of concerns raised by EIS regarding the higher education sector requested by EIS.
Meeting with Trade Unions (Unison, Unite)	22/01/2026	Part of a series of meetings with Trade Unions regarding Dundee Universities recovery planning requested by Scottish Government.
Steering group for the Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities (Unite)	30/01/2026	The minister briefly joined the first Steering Group for the Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities to thank Steering Group members for agreeing to participate and to highlight the importance of this work requested by Universities Scotland

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