The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
ANALYSIS
South of the border they have the “golden triangle” of Oxford, Cambridge and London flying the flag of UK university excellence around the globe.
In Courier Country, Scotland’s own “intellectual gold coast” is lapping at the shores of the higher education established order.
The positive impact of our universities can be measured in many ways, not least by the fact they bring the rest of the world to Tayside and Fife.
Known across the globe for their international outlook, they have forged a reputation for unrivalled student experience which attracts thousands of students.
Three-quarters of the countries of the world are represented across the university campuses.
A vital part of that student experience is the quality of life students enjoy here, whether in the vibrancy of the city of Dundee or the medieval charm of ancient St Andrews.
When they graduate, students fan back out across the globe and become the greatest ambassadors for their universities, for Fife and Tayside and for Scotland.
Of course, students do not flock to St Andrews and Dundee simply because it is a great place to live but for teaching excellence and diversity and quality of research.
They are not ivory towers but institutions which sit at the heart of the community.
They are a vital part of our local economy, generating millions of pounds every year for local businesses.
Dundee has more students per head of population than any other city in Scotland.
In St Andrews, the university stands alongside golf and tourism as the major economic driver.
In terms of economic impact, the universities generate around £1 billion a year for the economy, directly supporting in excess of 20,000 jobs.
They are generating new businesses, helping address social issues and contributing widely to the cultural sector.
They are carrying out pioneering research which is addressing local and global issues, from healthcare to climate challenges.
We should all take pride that here in our region we have some of the very best universities to be found anywhere.