Although Cambridge University topped the league tables, Scottish universities did well in a UK-wide league table of institutions taking part in the RAE. Edinburgh University, the top in Scotland ranks 12th in UK, St Andrews, second in Scotland comes 18th overall, with Glasgow University third and 32nd in the UK. Excellence in  subjects include, economics, physics, chemistry, nursing, midwifery and some areas of engineering.

These are all subjects where efforts were made to encourage university researchers across Scotland to collaborate in "research pools" and respond to increasing international competition.

Mark Batho, CEO of the Scottish Funding Council, which distributes public money to universities on behalf of the government, said research collaboration between institutions was a major factor in the improved figures.
"Our institutions undertake world-leading research across the spectrum, which represents a considerable advance on the last RAE," he said. "We have encouraged innovative research collaborations between universities, enabling them to compete with other institutions internationally and I am very pleased to see them all do so well in this assessment."

Universities Scotland, which represent university principals, hailed the results as a "national triumph" - at a time when many feared for the economic future of the country. Lecturers also called for greater funding and UCU Scotland warned institutions that they should not use the process as an excuse to downsize departments that did not fare as well as others.

The RAE is an independent assessment conducted jointly by the Scottish Funding Council and university funding bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Conducted every five to six years, the last being held in 2001. it evaluates the quality of research at UK institutions and is used as a guide for future cash allocation by the various bodies. Departments which do well attract the most funding. Those doing badly see their funding fall and departments have even shut as a result of a poor RAE rating.

http://www.rae.ac.uk/pubs/2008/01/