EFFORTS are under way to “broaden the cohort” of international students coming to Scottish universities in order to reduce “exposure to certain markets”, MSPs have heard.
It comes after concerns were raised about the level of financial reliance some universities have developed on fees paid by Chinese students, meaning they are exposed if student numbers drop off suddenly.
Graeme Dey, Minister for Higher Education, said the Scottish Government is continuing to promote Scotland as a global destination for higher learning despite the budget pressures.
Speaking to Holyrood’s Education Committee, he said assertions that higher numbers of international students were preventing Scots from finding places at university were not borne out by the facts.
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He said: “Over the piece, the opportunities for young people to go to university are considerably better than they’ve been before.”
Conservative MSP Liam Kerr asked him about universities’ reliance on the fees paid by international students, which are effectively subsidising domestic students.
Earlier this year, the Scottish Funding Council warned that universities had become over-reliant on international fee income, which brings in more than £1 billion but can be subject to “significant fluctuation”.
Dey said policies of the previous UK Government had affected international students.
He said: “We are working actively with the university sector to try and undo some of that damage.”
The minister continued: “Sitting alongside that is a small budget for the promotion of Scotland as the come-to destination for higher education.
“Despite the financial challenges we face that’s being taken forward in conjunction with the universities, directed by them in terms of the messaging.
“To try and not only and ensure Scotland continues to be an attractive destination but hopefully to broaden the cohorts of international students so there is less exposure to certain markets.”
Dey said it is unlikely that funding from Westminster would improve in the near future and it was necessary to address this.
In February, Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said Scottish universities would face a “huge” impact if the geopolitical situation led to a sharp drop in Chinese students.
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