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Select Committee · Scottish Affairs Committee

Universities and Scotland

Status: Closed Opened: 5 Aug 2020 Closed: 22 Apr 2022 29 recommendations 122 conclusions 1 report

The future funding of Scotland’s universities and fees for overseas and non-EU students will be the subject of this inquiry. The Committee will also use this inquiry as an opportunity to examine the impact policies made in Whitehall will have on Scottish Universities, their students, their employees and on research. Read the call for evidence … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Universities and Scotland HC 54 28 May 2021 151 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
14 Recommendation First Report - Universities and Scotland Deferred

Academic institutions in Scotland depend on partnerships and connections with institutions across the EU.

Academic institutions in Scotland depend on partnerships and connections with institutions across the EU. That includes academics who come from the EU to work in Scotland, who often specialise in highly technical areas which can be difficult to recruit from elsewhere. Whilst immigration policies are key, it’s also important to … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government redirected the recommendation to promote a positive narrative for EU academics in Scotland by stating Higher Education in Scotland is largely a devolved responsibility, and instead offered general statements about supporting international students across the UK.
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Scotland Office
16 Conclusion First Report - Universities and Scotland Deferred

As noted by Audit Scotland, the ability of universities in other parts of the UK...

As noted by Audit Scotland, the ability of universities in other parts of the UK to charge higher fees allows them to generate increased income, which can be invested in maintaining or improving what they can offer to prospective students and researchers.27 Unofficial ‘cap’ on Scottish student numbers Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that higher education in Scotland is a devolved responsibility, while noting continued engagement with the Scottish Government and highlighting efforts to support the economy and attract international students through its International Education Strategy.
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Scotland Office
48 Conclusion First Report - Universities and Scotland Deferred

Universities Scotland made the point of the pandemic has “exposed just how dependent the Scottish...

Universities Scotland made the point of the pandemic has “exposed just how dependent the Scottish higher education sector now is on international student fee income to subsidise publicly-funded activities of teaching undergraduate Scottish [ … ] students and to underpin publicly funded research.”114 In their view this problem had arisen … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government redirected the committee's observation regarding Scottish HE's dependence on international student fees to the devolved responsibility of Higher Education in Scotland, while highlighting broader UK strategies for international education and emphasising universities' responsibility to manage financial risks.
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Scotland Office
55 Conclusion First Report - Universities and Scotland Deferred

Despite the fact that the SAAS will still usually cover the cost of EU student...

Despite the fact that the SAAS will still usually cover the cost of EU student tuition fees in Scotland for 2020–21, they have already seen a 15% fall in the number of placed university applicants from EU students for that academic year (compared to the same point in the cycle … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government stated that Higher Education in Scotland is a devolved responsibility and highlighted UK-wide initiatives like the International Education Strategy and the Graduate Route, rather than directly addressing the observed 15% fall in EU student applicants despite SAAS fee coverage.
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Scotland Office
79 Recommendation First Report - Universities and Scotland Deferred

Our predecessor Committee’s Report from July 2018 on Immigration and Scotland found that: The UK...

Our predecessor Committee’s Report from July 2018 on Immigration and Scotland found that: The UK and Scottish Governments both recognise the importance of reflecting Scottish interests in immigration policy, but it appears that current mechanisms do not adequately enable this to happen. We recommend that the UK Government reviews how … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it will submit its response to the Committee's Report on Immigration and Scotland shortly, deferring action on the recommendation.
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Scotland Office

Oral evidence sessions

7 sessions
Date Witnesses
25 Feb 2021 Iain Stewart MP · Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, Rebecca Hackett · Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland View ↗
28 Jan 2021 Lauren McNamara · Student Awards Agency Scotland, Richard Lochhead MSP · Scottish Government, Roddy Macdonald · Scottish Government View ↗
9 Dec 2020 Professor Nigel Seaton · Abertay University, Professor Tim Bedford · University of Strathclyde, Rachel Sandison · University of Glasgow View ↗
25 Nov 2020 Professor Chris Pearce · University of Glasgow, Professor Katherine Smith · University of Strathclyde, Professor Rebecca Lunn MBE · University of Strathclyde View ↗
11 Nov 2020 Dr Stuart Fancey · Scottish Funding Council, Karen Watt · Scottish Funding Council View ↗
21 Oct 2020 Mary Senior · University and College Union Scotland, Matt Crilly · NUS Scotland View ↗
8 Oct 2020 Alastair Sim · Universities Scotland, Dr Vicky Johnson · University of the Highlands and Islands, Professor James Conroy · University of Glasgow View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alastair Sim · Director Universities Scotland 1
Dr Stuart Fancey · Director of Research and Innovation Scottish Funding Council 1
Dr Vicky Johnson · Director of the Centre for Remote and Rural Commu… University of the Highlands and Islands 1
Iain Stewart MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, (Minister… Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland 1
Karen Watt · Chief Executive Scottish Funding Council 1
Lauren McNamara · Director of Strategy and Operations Student Awards Agency Scotland 1
Mary Senior · Scotland Official University and College Union Scotland 1
Matt Crilly · President NUS Scotland 1
Professor Chris Pearce · Vice Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange University of Glasgow 1
Professor James Conroy · Dean for Global Engagement (Europe) and Vice Prin… University of Glasgow 1
Professor Katherine Smith · Professor of Public Health Policy University of Strathclyde 1
Professor Nigel Seaton · Principal and Vice-Chancellor Abertay University 1
Professor Rebecca Lunn MBE · Head of the Centre for Ground Engineering and Ene… University of Strathclyde 1
Professor Tim Bedford · Associate Principal (Research & Knowledge Exchang… University of Strathclyde 1
Rachel Sandison · Vice Principal, External Relations University of Glasgow 1
Rebecca Hackett · Deputy Director, Policy Delivery and Relationship… Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland 1
Richard Lochhead MSP · Minister for Further Education, Higher Education,… Scottish Government 1
Roddy Macdonald · Head of Higher Education and Science Scottish Government 1

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
16 May 2022 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State for Scotland on the UK Government response t…
27 Apr 2022 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland on the UK Government response to …
7 Mar 2022 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State for Scotland, on Government responses to Co…
2 Mar 2022 From cttee Letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland on Government responses to Commit…

Meetings & visits

4 items
DateTypeDetail
28 May 2021 Informal meeting — · Virtual meeting
19 May 2021 Formal meeting (private meeting) — · Virtual meeting
2 Feb 2021 Outreach event — · Virtual Meeting
13 Jan 2021 Outreach event — · Virtual meeting