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I am new to 8th ed fantasy

In the BRB it states that a character on foot joining a skirmish unit gains the skirmish rule while in that unit.
Does the same apply for Scouts? as in can you deploy a character into a scouting unit? or does the character need to have scout in order to deploy in a unit that is scouting?

Unless the character rules, or the scout rules say that specifically, then no they can't.

In high elves there is an item which can be given to heroes to have them gain the scout special rule, it states that no mounted models, foot troop only as a dragon which is a scout could be quite terrifying

Scout and Skirmish are two separate rules with their own individual restrictions on how they interact with characters. Read the appropriate sections of the rulebook to understand them.

If the book doesn't say yes, then the answer is no.