Laura McCaughey stood with keynote speakers Sarah Hunt (Skills Development Scotland) and Yvonne Bayne (Fife College), and Professor Claire Garden, chair of the SULSA Skills Committee in front of a stage together. From left to right: Sarah Hunt, Claire Garden, Yvonne Bayne & Laura McCaughey

Senior Lecturer in Microbiology Dr Laura McCaughey has co-authored a new Future Skills Framework report highlighting how Life Sciences educators can utilise, improve, and futureproof skills frameworks to support students identify, track, and articulate their skills development to align with industry demand.

The report is the key output from the Future Skills Symposium, held at the University of Glasgow in June and jointly supported by the School of Infection & Immunity (Sii) and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA).

By bringing together students, academics, and leading employers across the life sciences sector, the event facilitated the sharing of best practice, strengthened collaboration across institutions, and ensured that skills development in further and higher education is not only visible and accessible but also aligned with the real-world needs of employers.

Drawing on insights from the likes of BioAscent, IQVIA, RSK Group Biocensus, SGS Vitrology, Causeway Therapeutics, and Sygnature Discovery, the report outlines three key themes that emerged from the discussions:

  • Supporting Student Engagement – Skills frameworks should be empowering, not intimidating. They should celebrate individuality, build confidence, and be embedded meaningfully into the curriculum.
  • Aligning with Industry – There is a need for clearly defined skills language usage, stronger links between accreditation requirements and employability, and greater visibility of how academic skills translate into real-world roles.
  • Adapting for the Future – Frameworks must evolve to address current and emerging skills gaps, including AI literacy, project management, and practical lab competencies.

A long-standing advocate for student employability, skills development, and public engagement, Dr McCaughey, who produced the document in collaboration with the event’s organising committee, said: “Skills development is as much a part of the academic journey as knowledge acquisition, and this event marked a significant step forward in ensuring that journey is as inclusive, empowering, and future-ready as possible.

“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the members of the organising committee for their contributions in shaping the event and for their active participation on the day.”

 

 

Dr McCaughey produced the document in collaboration with the event’s full organising committee:

  • Tracy Maxwell (University of Glasgow), Gemma Barron (Robert Gordon University), Susan Chalmers (University of Strathclyde), Virtu Solano (University of Aberdeen), Rhona Gibson (University of Aberdeen), Janis MacCallum (Edinburgh Napier University), Linda Scobie (Glasgow Caledonian University), Lynsay Pickering (University of Dundee), Anna McGregor (University of Glasgow), Samantha Campbell Casey (Edinburgh Napier University), and Lynsey Brosnan (Robert Gordon University).

The cover of the future skills framework report, using the framework logo of a thistle stylised as a DNA helix, with the title of the report above

First published: 6 October 2025

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