Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 46
46
Rt Hon Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, also recognised the reliance of...
Conclusion
Rt Hon Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, also recognised the reliance of Scottish universities on international students: Scotland’s education sector should, in the first instance, exist to support Scottish and [rest of the UK] domiciled students and the long-term contribution that they will make to economic growth. The sector still has much to do on widening access, yet is effectively selling places on the international market in order to sustain itself. International participation will always be welcome, however we need to get the balance right. For example, we need to be sure that when budgets are tight, capacity that could be used to address issues such as widening access in order to support ‘levelling up’ is not offered instead to the highest international bidder.111 Impact of the covid-19 pandemic on international student numbers
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Higher Education in Scotland is, for the most part, a devolved responsibility. We recognise that the whole of the UK benefits from stability across Higher Education. We appreciate the importance of continuing to work closely with the Scottish Government as we recover from the COVID pandemic. There has been and continues to be engagement at ministerial and official level with the Scottish Government (and the other devolved administrations) to exchange information and policy developments across a range of issues facing education systems in the UK. Furthermore, the UK Government has been working tirelessly to support businesses and the economy in Scotland including our universities. International students bring fresh ideas and new perspectives and in doing so help challenge thinking, making for an enriching learning environment for all students, including those from the UK. For our young people, this cultural exchange helps build 2 Universities and Scotland: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report life-long friendships, as well as laying the foundation for future networks, and important business, political and diplomatic bridges. International students also help stimulate demand for courses, add to the UK’s impressive research capacity and have the potential to contribute invaluably to the UK skills base—particularly in key subjects where they benefit the UK economy by filling a number of sectoral skills shortages, for example engineering, technology, health and social work. Universities are aware of the possible risks associated with dependence on a single source of funding, whether that is from a single organisation or from a single nation. Ensuring student recruitment is from a diversified base, in order for growth to remain sustainable in the longer term remains a key strategic priority—our commitment to this is set out clearly in the International Education Strategy. As part of this strategy, which was launched last year and will be updated this year, we also announced the Graduate Route, among several other measures to attract new international students. The UK Government’s International Education Strategy and recent update make clear that the internationalisation of our higher education sector cannot come at any cost – universities must ensure they have appropriate processes in place to manage risk. We will look to work closely with colleagues in Scotland and the other DA’s to continue to work on this aim.