Correspondence

Found: NUS Scotland, Universities Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council, in the session on universities

Apr. 03 2024

Found: In November 2023, Universities Scotland submitted a paper to the ECYP Committee on its response to the

Feb. 07 2024

Found: The Scottish Government (SG), along with Scotland’s universities and colleges, warmly welcome international

S6W-27176

Asked by: Johnson, Daniel (Scottish Labour - Edinburgh Southern)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Graduate Apprenticeship Enhancement Group has been created; who sits on it, and what the expected workstreams are for the group.   

Answered by Dey, Graeme - Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans

The Scottish Government has established the Graduate Apprenticeship Enhancement Group. It held its first meeting in April and met again in May. Membership includes Universities Scotland, Colleges Scotland, representatives from universities and colleges, Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland, Student Awards Agency for Scotland and members of the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board. Former and current Graduate Apprentices will also be invited to join the group. The Group is developing the workstreams which will support its work.

Correspondence

Found: Universities Scotland told the Committee that by 2024/25, universities’ teachi ng grants will have been

Apr. 15 2024

Found: Annual report on procurement activity in Scotland 2021-2022

S6W-24810

Asked by: Stewart, Kevin (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen Central)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of any potential challenges faced by universities and students impacted by new UK visa restrictions, in relation to family members accompanying students, what steps it is taking to support universities in Scotland to (a) adapt to the new restrictions and (b) provide information and guidance to affected students.

Answered by Dey, Graeme - Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans

The Scottish Government remains deeply concerned about the new UK visa changes and the impact on Scotland’s ability to attract international students.

The Scottish Government will launch a Talent Attraction and Migration Service in 2024. The service will help address Scotland's demographic challenges and will attract and welcome more workers from outside Scotland, including the rest of the UK, with the skills that our economy needs.

The service will provide immigration support for employers, including our universities and colleges, based in Scotland and for those wishing to set up in Scotland, to enable them to use the UK’s immigration system effectively and efficiently to help meet Scotland’s skills and labour needs.

The service will also cater to immigration queries from people whose leave is about to expire and to international students approaching the end of their studies who wish to remain in Scotland and seek employment with a Scotland-based employer.

We have also recently launched our International Education Strategy which sets out steps we will take to work collaboratively with the sector to support international students to study in Scotland.

As immigration is a complex legal area, students may wish to seek professional advice, as the Scottish Government cannot provide legal or immigration advice. An immigration advisor can be found through the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner which regulates immigration advice and services.

Found: Cross -Party Group Annual Return Name of Cross -Party Group Cross -Party Group on Colleges and Universities

Dec. 18 2023

Found: Universities Scotland is a Scottish charity, SC029163, regulated by the Scottish Charity Regulator

Mar. 25 2024

Found: Building a New Scotland: Education and Lifelong Learning in Scotland Easy Read