Recommendation 80

Richard Lochhead MSP, Scottish Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, told us that: We do work with the UK Government, and the UK Government have been speaking to us. There will be lots more discussions because these are the very early stages of post-Brexit Britain, so we will continue to work with the UK Government on what they can do to support us. [ … ] What is important to me is that the Scottish brand is protected, because we have a very powerful 184 Q45 185 Scottish Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of Session 2017–19, Immigration and Scotland, HC 488, paras 91–92 186 Q42 187 HMG, ‘Graduate route to open to international students on 1 July 2021’, accessed 13 April 2021 188 HMG, ‘Graduate route to open to international students on 1 July 2021’, accessed 13 April 2021 189 HMG, ‘UK announces 2-year post-study work visa for international students’, accessed 13 April 2021 190 Q48 191 Scottish Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of Session 2017–19, Immigration and Scotland, HC 488, para 98 192 Cabinet Office, Giving evidence to Select Committees: Guidance for Civil Servants, October 2014, para 68 34 Universities and Scotland brand for Scottish higher education. It is really important that we maintain the brand. Yes, we are open to working with the UK Government on that, of course.193 [ … ] The issue we have discussed so far [with the UK Government] is making sure that Scottish education is attractive, and the immigration system, the visa costs, all these issues are very, very important. Making it easy for researchers and students to come here, and not more expensive compared with going to another European country or elsewhere. That is where we really need the UK Government’s help to make sure that our institutions are seen as attractive.194