COMEDIAN Fred MacAulay will host and toast the achievements of Scotland’s universities and colleges at next week's The Herald Higher Education Awards.

The awards, run in association with Scottish Funding Council, celebrate how colleges and universities work with employers, use technology, support students and focus on widening access.

The glittering awards night takes place next Thursday at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow.

John Kemp, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “The awards ceremony is eagerly anticipated as a unique way of celebrating the amazing things that take place in Scotland’s colleges and universities. I am very much looking forward to the evening and am delighted that the Scottish Funding Council has been able to play a part in helping to make this year’s event happen.”

Fiona Killen, Education Governance Lead and Head of Parliamentary and Public Law at sponsor Anderson Strathern, added: “We are proud to support these awards for the fourth year running and delighted to be sponsoring the Higher Education Institution of the Year award, to recognise exceptional performance in the past academic year.”

A further sponsor is City of Glasgow College and Roy Gardner, its Executive Director, Corporate Development & Innovation, said “We are proud of our on-going association with The Herald Education Awards. As in previous years the standard of entries is exceptional, underlining the outstanding work that continually takes place across the sector. We are looking forward to the awards ceremony at the end of June and to congratulating this year’s deserved winners."

Alan Walter, partner at sponsor Dixon Walter said: “Our universities and colleges are more often than not, anchor institutions in their surrounding communities, contributing right across the socio-economic spectrum to their vibrancy and sustainability. We should rightly celebrate this and at Dixon Walter, we are passionate about the sectors overall contribution to Scottish society.”

Jason Miles-Campell, head of Jisc Scotland and Northern Ireland added; “We are really excited to be taking part in this year’s Herald Higher Education Awards, and meeting the winner of the Innovative use of technology award when announced on June 28.”

Ailsa Crum, Head of Quality & Enhancement, QAA Scotland said “We’re looking forward to an evening celebrating the achievements of our wonderful students and staff across the higher education sectors in Scotland. It’s always inspiring to hear more about the fascinating work they’re doing.”

Dr Janet Brown, SQA Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Outstanding Employer Engagement in Universities and in Colleges awards. I congratulate all the finalists and look forward to recognising them at the ceremony, and hearing about the innovative ways that they deliver employers’ workforce development needs together with enabling learner employability skills and experiences.”

If you would like more information about the event, or to book a ticket, please contact Kerry Medford, Event Manager on 0141 302 7319 or visit our website http://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/heawards/