Universities and Scotland

Scottish Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 5 Aug 2020 Closed: 22 Apr 2022 Parliament page
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 more
29 Recommendations
122 Conclusions
1 Report
7 Oral sessions
4 Letters
11 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
16 May
2022
Correspondence
27 Apr
2022
Report published
27 Apr
2022
Correspondence
7 Mar
2022
Correspondence
2 Mar
2022
Correspondence
28 May
2021
Report published
28 May
2021
Informal meeting · Virtual meeting
19 May
2021
Formal meeting (private meeting) · Virtual meeting
25 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
2 Feb
2021
Outreach event · Virtual Meeting
28 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
13 Jan
2021
Outreach event · Virtual meeting
Oral evidence sessions 7 sessions
25 Feb 2021
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Iain Stewart MP · Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Rebecca Hackett · Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
28 Jan 2021
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Lauren McNamara · Student Awards Agency Scotland Richard Lochhead MSP · Scottish Government Roddy Macdonald · Scottish Government
9 Dec 2020
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Professor Nigel Seaton · Abertay University Professor Tim Bedford · University of Strathclyde Rachel Sandison · University of Glasgow
25 Nov 2020
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Professor Chris Pearce · University of Glasgow Professor Katherine Smith · University of Strathclyde Professor Rebecca Lunn MBE · University of Strathclyde
11 Nov 2020
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Dr Stuart Fancey · Scottish Funding Council Karen Watt · Scottish Funding Council
21 Oct 2020
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Mary Senior · University and College Union Scotland Matt Crilly · NUS Scotland
8 Oct 2020
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Alastair Sim · Universities Scotland Dr Vicky Johnson · University of the Highlands and Islands Professor James Conroy · University of Glasgow
Title HC No. Published Items Response
First Report - Universities and Scotland HC 54 28 May 2021 151 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
14 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Universities and Sc…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Scotland Office
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16 Conclusion Deferred
First Report - Universities and Sc…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Scotland Office
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48 Conclusion Deferred
First Report - Universities and Sc…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Scotland Office
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55 Conclusion Deferred
First Report - Universities and Sc…
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 … Read more
Government Response
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.
Scotland Office
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79 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Universities and Sc…
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 … Read more
Government Response
The government states it will submit its response to the Committee's Report on Immigration and Scotland shortly, deferring action on the recommendation.
Scotland Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 141 of 29 classified
Accepted 44
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 48
Deferred 5
Not Addressed 32
Rejected 10
Total 29 recs + 122 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
16 May 2022 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Scotland on the UK Government response to the Universities and Scotland report, dated 10 May 2022
Parliament page
27 Apr 2022 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland on the UK Government response to the Universities and Scotland report, dated 25 April 2022
Parliament page
7 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Scotland, on Government responses to Committee reports, dated 4 March 2022
Parliament page
2 Mar 2022 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Scotland on Government responses to Committee reports, dated 21 February 2022
Parliament page