Public appointment: Chair appointed to Scottish Funding Council Board

The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans today announced the appointment of Professor Cara Aitchison as Chair of the Scottish Funding Council Board.

Commenting on Professor Aitchison’s appointment, Higher and Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said “Professor Aitchson brings with her extensive knowledge and experience and I am confident that she is absolutely the right appointment to lead the board of the Scottish Funding Council.

“We are embarked upon a significant reform programme, encompassing the entire post-school education and skills landscape, within which it is intended the SFC will take on important additional responsibilities.

“Having worked with her over the past few months I am in no doubt that Professor Aitchison is the right person to take on this role and help shape the short, medium and long term direction of a repurposed SFC.’’

Chair

Professor Aitchison has had a distinguished career in education leadership in Scotland, the wider UK, and internationally, including over a decade as a University Principal. She brings extensive experience of higher education policy and funding and of organisational transformation, culture and leadership.

She is Professor Emerita in Geography and Cultural Economy at Cardiff Metropolitan University where she was previously President and Vice-Chancellor and is an Honorary Professor in Education, Geography and Cultural Economy at the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education, where she was previously Head of School.

Prior to her senior leadership roles, Professor Aitchison was Professor in Human Geography at the University of the West of England, Bristol and has undertaken extensive research and published widely on sustainable development in rural, coastal and remote areas, and on identity, inclusion and cultural diplomacy in sport, tourism, and education.

Professor Aitchison has served as a member of the SFC Board since June 2024 and was appointed as interim SFC co-Chair on 2 April 2025.

Appointment

This appointment will be for four years and will run from 4 July 2025 to 4 July 2029.

This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £501.09 for a time commitment of eight days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Professor Aitchison is a member of the Visit Scotland board, for which she receives remuneration of £356 per day, for a time commitment of two days per month. She is also a member of the Board of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This role is unremunerated and has a time commitment of two days per month.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Professor Aitchison has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Scottish Funding Council is the non-departmental public body responsible for Scotland's further and higher education institutions, including its 24 colleges and 19 universities. The SFC is helping to make Scotland the best place in the world to educate, to research and to innovate. Investing around £1.9 billion of public money each year, SFC’s funding enables Scotland’s colleges and universities to provide life-changing opportunities for over half a million people.