Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 49
49
The current picture regarding international student numbers looks much more encouraging than it did in...
Conclusion
The current picture regarding international student numbers looks much more encouraging than it did in mid-2020. UCAS data117 from 18 February 2021 shows that applications to Scottish universities for the next academic year by non-EU international students has—despite many expectations in 2020—increased by 27% (to 6,100), which 110 Q232 111 Secretary of State at the Scotland Office (USC0011) 112 “Covid fears putting off Chinese students from UK”, BBC News, 15 July 2020 113 Universities Scotland, An existential challenge: the financial threat facing Scotland’s universities as a result of COVID-19 (9 April 2020), phase 2 114 Universities Scotland, An existential challenge: the financial threat facing Scotland’s universities as a result of COVID-19 (9 April 2020), phase 2 115 Universities Scotland, An existential challenge: the financial threat facing Scotland’s universities as a result of COVID-19 (9 April 2020), phase 2 116 Scottish Funding Council, Coherence and Sustainability: A review of Scotland’s Colleges and Universities, Phase One Report: Insights to Develop Further (20 October 2020) 117 Note: not all international students apply to university via UCAS, so these statistics may not provide a full picture Universities and Scotland 23 is the highest increase in non-EU international student applications across all four UK nations.118 Commenting on these statistics, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said: Application data at this point in the cycle gives an indication about the demand for higher education, and it looks assuring for Scottish universities. Students clearly see a value at studying in Scotland from across the world all the way to our most deprived areas. We are taking nothing for granted as applications don’t necessarily transfer into acceptances especially when there is a great deal of volatility regarding students and the pandemic.119
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.