First Report - Universities and Scotland

The government confirms its agreement to associate with Horizon Europe, stating the terms ensure fair financial contribution and equivalent participation for UK applicants, and has a contingency plan if association is not formalised.

The government acknowledges the importance of diversified income streams for universities, focusing on international students as a vital source while recognizing the risks of over-reliance. It highlights the existing International Education Strategy and the Graduate Route as measures to attract international students and ensure sustainable, diversified recruitment.

The government acknowledges the varying income streams and risks for universities, emphasizing the importance of diversified funding, especially concerning international students. It outlines existing initiatives like the International Education Strategy and the Graduate Route, which aim to attract international students sustainably while managing associated risks.

The government acknowledges the devolved nature of HE and its engagement with Scottish Government, and states that its International Education Strategy has already seen an increase in international student enrolments, meeting its 2030 target ahead of time.

The government states it has launched a new global, points-based immigration system, including the Graduate route, and is promoting these extensively to welcome international students, aiming for 600,000 by 2030, which it believes addresses the issue.

The government refers to its existing International Education Strategy and notes it already operates global scholarship programmes like Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships. It also states the British Council Study UK campaign collaborates with Scottish stakeholders to accurately represent Scottish universities.

The government stated its International Education Strategy aims to increase international students, a target already met, and highlighted existing global scholarship programmes (Chevening, Commonwealth, Marshall) available to students, rather than committing to a new or expanded scheme specifically for EU students or increased funding for Study UK to target them.

The government describes a series of concessions introduced to support the education sector and international students during COVID-19, including enabling distance learning and ensuring COVID-related absences do not count against students.

The government acknowledges the value of international students, stating that its International Education Strategy (updated Feb 2021) aims to sustainably increase international students and education exports, noting they have already met the 600,000 student target for 2030.

The government acknowledges the importance of attracting international students and refers to its updated International Education Strategy, which sets ambitions for student numbers and education exports, noting the 2030 student target has already been met.

The government states it is already committed to supporting the higher education sector and increasing international students, citing recent migration statistics and the introduction of 'streamlined, simplified' Student, Child Student, and Graduate routes. They also highlighted concessions made during Covid-19.

The government reiterated its commitment to supporting and increasing international students and academics, citing record numbers of sponsored study visas and the introduction of streamlined Student and Graduate routes. It did not directly address the committee's observation regarding visa costs and the healthcare surcharge making the UK less welcoming.

The government reiterates its commitment to the higher education sector and confirms the launch of the Student, Child Student, and Graduate visa routes in 2020-2021, which streamline and simplify pathways for international students and graduates.

The government accepted the recommendation, stating it would submit its response to the Committee's Report on Immigration and Scotland shortly.

The government has committed £110 million for the Turing Scheme for the 2022/23 academic year, as its replacement for Erasmus+, aiming to support international educational mobility, evaluate its impact, and focus on widening access for disadvantaged students, noting that partial association with Erasmus+ is not legally possible.

The government confirmed three-year funding for the Turing Scheme, maintaining £110 million for 2022/23, and committed to evaluating its impact and developing the scheme in future years to ensure it delivers on its objectives. It also noted the impossibility of partial association with Erasmus+.

The government confirmed three years of funding for the Turing Scheme, maintaining £110 million for 2022/23, but reiterated that the scheme prioritises outward mobility and does not cover inbound student placements, addressing the mixed reaction and concerns raised.

The government has confirmed funding for the Turing Scheme for the next three years, including £110 million for 2022/23, and commits to evaluating its impact and engaging with Devolved Administrations to develop it further.

The government confirmed three years of funding for the Turing Scheme but stated that the scheme prioritises pupils, students, and learners over staff and inward mobility funding, thus not envisaging funding for overseas students coming to the UK.

The government has confirmed three years of funding for the Turing Scheme, addressing concerns about its temporary nature and outlining its long-term ambitions for international educational mobility.

The government confirmed three years of funding for the Turing Scheme, maintaining £110 million for 2022/23, and reiterated its commitment to international educational mobility and global reach, aligning with its stated aims to improve upon Erasmus+.

The government confirmed three years of funding for the Turing Scheme, stating it will evaluate the first year to continue developing the scheme and will continue to closely engage with Devolved Administrations in its future development.

The government addresses the impact on research by committing to a significant uplift in public R&D spending, reaching £20 billion per annum by 2024/25, which it believes will help the R&D sector plan ahead and overcome fiscal challenges from Covid.

The government responds by committing to a significant uplift in public R&D spending, reaching £20 billion per annum by 2024/25, which aims to provide a long-term and stable solution for research funding, reducing reliance on charity donations impacted by the pandemic.

The government acknowledged the R&D Roadmap, detailing its commitment through the 2021 Spending Review to significantly increase public R&D funding to £20 billion by 2024/25 and £22 billion by 2026/27, affirming its plan to make the UK a science and technology superpower.

The government affirmed its commitment to making the UK a global science and technology superpower by increasing R&D funding to £20 billion by 2024/25 and providing for ODA funding to return to 0.7% of GNI by 2024/25 when fiscal conditions allow.

The government outlined its commitment to increase R&D funding to £20 billion by 2024/25 and noted a provision to return ODA funding to 0.7% of GNI by 2024/25 if fiscal conditions permit. It also confirmed increasing R&D ODA spend to £1bn per annum by 2024/25.

The government has increased public R&D spending to £20 billion per annum by 2024/25, demonstrating commitment to the R&D Roadmap, and is increasing R&D ODA spend to £1bn per annum by 2024/25, while planning to return total ODA to 0.7% when fiscal conditions allow.

The government acknowledged the description of UKRI by detailing its commitment through the 2021 Spending Review to significantly increase public R&D funding to £20 billion by 2024/25 and £22 billion by 2026/27, aligning with the R&D Roadmap and Innovation Strategy.

The government's response highlights existing UKRI mechanisms and plans to ensure understanding of the diverse R&D landscape across the UK, including legal requirements for board appointments, regular engagement with devolved administrations, and holding meetings outside London.

The government states that UKRI Board appointments consider research conditions in devolved nations and that UKRI engages regularly with Devolved Administrations and their bodies to understand the R&D landscape, while clarifying Research England's essential integration within UKRI's corporate structure.

The government asserts that UKRI operates with an effective understanding of the UK R&D landscape through regular engagement and collaboration with Devolved Administrations and their delivery bodies, and considers devolved nations' research conditions for board appointments.

The government maintains that UKRI Board appointments are merit-based, but legal requirements ensure consideration of research conditions in devolved nations, and UKRI engages regularly with DAs. It also clarifies that Research England's integration into UKRI is essential for corporate operations and accountability.

The government asserts that UKRI Board appointments are made on individual merit, not regional representation, but that legal requirements ensure consideration of devolved nations' research conditions for a balanced Board, and UKRI engages regularly with Devolved Administrations.

The government confirms it has already agreed to associate with Horizon Europe through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, specifying the terms of participation and financial arrangements, and notes ongoing delays in formalisation by the EU.

The government confirms its agreement to associate with Horizon Europe through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, reiterating the terms of participation and financial safeguards, despite persistent delays from the EU in formalising the arrangement.

The government has already agreed to associate with Horizon Europe under terms that ensure UK researchers' access and financial contributions are fair, with provisions to not pay for excluded parts of the program, addressing the US's previous concerns.

The government reaffirmed its agreement to associate with Horizon Europe, noting persistent delays from the EU but confirming UK eligibility to apply for funding on equivalent terms to EU Member States. It also outlined plans for alternative UK schemes in the event that association is not possible.

The government confirmed its agreement to associate with Horizon Europe, reiterating its readiness to formalise participation despite delays from the EU, and detailed the benefits and terms for UK researchers. It also outlined plans for alternative UK schemes if association is not possible.

The government confirms its agreement to associate with Horizon Europe, stating the terms ensure fair financial contribution and equivalent participation for UK applicants, and has a contingency plan if association is not formalised.

The government highlights its new global, points-based immigration system, including the Graduate route, and the Office for Talent, asserting these policies already ensure the UK welcomes international talent and is competitive.

The government highlights its new points-based immigration system, including the Graduate route, which aims to attract international talent and is committed to increasing international student numbers to 600,000 by 2030. It also notes the establishment of the Office for Talent to further improve the UK's talent offer and visa reforms.

The government stated it has extensively promoted its new immigration system, including the Graduate route, to send a clear message that the UK welcomes international talent. It has also established the Office for Talent to improve the approach to attracting global talent and strengthen the UK's talent offer.

The government accepted the recommendation, outlining actions such as launching the new global, points-based immigration system (including the Graduate route), extensively promoting these routes, committing to increasing international student numbers, and establishing the Office for Talent to further improve the UK's talent offer.