International Education Strategy Governance Group minutes: June 2026

Attendees and apologies

• (Chair) Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education
• Andy Witty, Director of Strategic Policy and Corporate Governance, Colleges Scotland
• Carla Gethin, International Committee, College Development Network
• Claire De Braekeleer, Director, British Council Scotland
• Gareth Williams, Head of Policy, Prosper
• Professor Nicholas Forsyth, Vice-Convener, Research & Knowledge Exchange Committee, Universities Scotland
• Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Universities Scotland, International Network
• Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion
• Professor Rachel Sandison OBE, Scottish Government Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education
• Dr David Donaldson, Universities Scotland
• Ela Kossakowska, Universities Scotland
• Sally Robinson – British Council (Erasmus+ National Agency designate)
• Harish Lokhun, British Council
• Sarah Chidgey, UK Government, Department for Business and Trade
• Mashalle Asim, UK Government, Department for Education
• Ahmed Arain, UK Government, Department for Education
• Tim Bisset, Scottish Government
• Frank Moeschler, Scottish Government
• Beya Thompson, Ministers Private Secretary

Apologies

• Professor Neville Wylie, Chair, Connected Scotland

Items and actions

Opening remarks and introductions

The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education welcomed attendees to the ninth meeting of this group and thanked British Council for hosting.

The Minister noted his reappointment and continued commitment to further and higher education sectors, placing emphasis on collaboration across the governance group to support Erasmus+ and wider internationalisation.

Members agreed the accuracy of the minutes of the last meeting.

Previous actions (March meeting)

The Chair noted there were a small number of outstanding actions and invited updates.

Action – Universities Scotland: Global Engagement Roadmap activity remains aligned with key international engagement opportunities, including the Commonwealth Games evening reception (July) and European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference (September) (action ongoing).

Action - Erasmus+ Timeline: this has been shared with members (completed).

Action - Immigration Letter to the Scotland Office: issued and circulated to members (completed).

Erasmus+ overview of current status and plans from the National Agency and discussion (British Council)

Key updates

The British Council is currently acting as the National Agency designate, with formal confirmation subject to completion of contractual arrangements and audit requirements.

The Erasmus+ 2027 programme will cover seven sectors:

• schools (including Early Years)
• further education
• higher education
• vocational education and training (VET)
• adult education
• youth
• sport

The programme budget is expected to be significantly increased, at approximately double the size of the previous programme.

Key priorities for implementation include:

• raising awareness of funding and participation opportunities
• supporting partnership development
• promoting inclusive participation across all sectors

A key focus will be on rebuilding institutional capability to support engagement with and delivery of Erasmus+ opportunities.

Timeline

• awareness campaign currently underway (Spring–Summer 2026)
• first application call expected to open in November 2026
• first application deadline anticipated in February 2027
• contracting and funding awards expected by May 2027
• mobility activity could begin from June/July 2027 at the earliest

Challenge noted: The implementation timetable is considered particularly tight for Scottish institutions, given alignment with the academic calendar and the lead-in time required for programme delivery.

Operational readiness:

• recruitment of programme staff is underway
• governance structures and delivery systems are being re-established
• the scale and pace of preparation were acknowledged as challenging, with delivery partners effectively "building the plane while flying it."

Support will be prioritised for:

• new entrants to Erasmus+ seeking to engage with the programme for the first time
• institutions with reduced international mobility capacity following the gap in programme participation

There is also a strong emphasis on:

• encouraging collaboration between experienced and less-experienced institutions
• sharing expertise, strengthening partnerships, and rebuilding sector-wide capability to maximise participation from 2027 onwards

Discussion points

Positive developments:

• nine Scottish colleges have already applied for an Erasmus+ Charter, demonstrating strong early engagement with the programme.
• Sector mobilisation is well underway, supported through:
  • webinars and information sessions
  • stakeholder engagement packs
  • broad sector-wide engagement activity

Institutional capacity and capability:

• concerns were raised regarding the loss of institutional knowledge and expertise following the UK's absence from Erasmus+
• there is a clear need for:
  • training and practitioner support to rebuild capability
  • early operational guidance on programme requirements and delivery models, including Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs)

Programme timelines:

• continued concern was expressed about the compressed implementation timetable and its fit with the Scottish academic calendar
• institutions highlighted the need for timely guidance and decision-making to support effective planning and student mobilisation

Inclusion and participation:

• inclusion targets and associated delivery expectations remain under discussion between the Department for Education (DfE) and the British Council
• members emphasised the importance of ensuring equitable access and participation across different learner groups and geographic regions

Strategic themes:

• strong support was expressed for collaborative delivery models, particularly partnerships between larger, more experienced institutions and smaller or less experienced organisations
• the emphasis should be on widening participation and sharing expertise rather than institutional competition

International partnerships

• institutions highlighted the importance of:
  • dedicated partner-matching support
  • facilitating connections with European networks and prospective partners
  • re-establishing international relationships disrupted during the programme gap

Alignment with Scottish priorities:

• members stressed the importance of aligning Erasmus+ activity with the Scottish Government's wider international ambitions
• opportunities were identified to utilise Scottish Government overseas offices to support partnership development, promotion and international engagement

Specific topics raised:

• European university alliances: Concerns remain regarding funding arrangements and longer-term participation opportunities for UK partners
• outreach and accessibility: The need to ensure engagement with:
  • rural and remote communities
  • Gaelic-speaking communities and related language considerations
• branding and communications: Members highlighted the importance of maintaining visible Scottish Government branding and recognition across programme communications and engagement activity

Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education update

Key messages

Strategic context:

• the sector is at a “critical inflection point”, presenting both significant opportunities and substantial risks
• there is strong recognition that decisions taken over the next 12–18 months will have a lasting impact on international engagement, student mobility, and institutional sustainability

Erasmus+:

• strong support across the sector for UK reassociation with Erasmus+
• broad recognition of the opportunities offered by Erasmus+, particularly in comparison with the more limited scope of the Turing Scheme, including support for partnership development, institutional collaboration, and wider educational exchange

Immigration challenges:

• immigration remains a major concern across the sector
• key issues highlighted include:
  • increasing numbers of visa refusals
  • ongoing visa processing delays, with around 25% of January intake students receiving their visas late
  • a reported 30% decline in CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) numbers
• institutions are also facing growing market pressures, including:
  • declining recruitment from China
  • increased geopolitical uncertainty affecting student mobility and recruitment decisions
  • expectations that visa restrictions may be extended to additional countries

Systemic risks:

• the impact of current immigration and recruitment challenges is being felt unevenly across institutions
• concerns were raised about potential long-term reputational damage to the UK and Scotland internationally, particularly regarding perceptions of welcome, accessibility, and reliability for international students

Marketing and recruitment:

• the Destination Scotland campaign continues to perform strongly
• student satisfaction levels remain higher than the UK average, providing a positive platform for international promotion
• the US market was identified as a significant growth opportunity, with applications continuing to increase
• opportunities were highlighted to capitalise on:
  • increased international visibility generated by the FIFA World Cup and the profile of the ‘Tartan Army’
  • Scotland's strong international reputation for being a welcoming, safe, and supportive destination for international students

Immigration policy discussion

Red/amber/green compliance ratings:

• members expressed concern that even institutions with strong compliance records could receive an “amber” rating under proposed compliance measures
• there was significant concern about the potential reputational impact of such ratings on relationships with international agents, prospective students, and partner organisations
• participants noted that perceptions of increased immigration risk could adversely affect recruitment regardless of actual institutional performance

Financial dependence on international students:

• the discussion highlighted the continued dependence of many institutions—particularly in Scotland—on international tuition fee income
• any significant reduction in international student recruitment could therefore have substantial financial and operational implications across the sector

Proposed collective approach:

• members supported pursuing a coordinated approach to the UK Government, including engagement with the Secretary of State for Scotland
• the Scottish Government indicated its willingness to support lobbying and advocacy activity on behalf of the sector

Evidence and messaging:

• it was agreed that successful engagement would require:
  • robust sector-wide evidence on compliance performance and visa outcomes
  • clear, consistent and coordinated messaging across institutions and representative bodies
  • a strong evidence base demonstrating the economic, educational and societal contribution of international students

UK Government perspective:

• Sir Steve Smith highlighted concerns regarding the potential impact of current immigration policy proposals
• it was noted that expectations of a possible 30–35% decline in international student numbers, with effects likely to be unevenly distributed across the sector
• particular emphasis was placed on:
  • maintaining compliance with visa thresholds and sponsor requirements
  • ensuring engagement with government is supported by credible evidence and robust sector data

Collaboration:

• strong collaboration across universities, colleges, sector bodies and government partners continues to be a defining feature of the current response
• there was broad agreement on the importance of maintaining a collective approach to both Erasmus+ implementation and immigration policy challenges

Erasmus+ opportunity:

• reassociation with Erasmus+ is viewed as a significant strategic opportunity for Scotland
• there is strong momentum across the sector, alongside recognition that success will depend on rapid mobilisation, capacity-building and effective partnership development

Immigration risks:

• immigration policy remains the most significant external risk facing the sector
• concerns include visa refusals, processing delays, increasing compliance requirements, market uncertainty and potential declines in international student recruitment

Members agreed on the need for:

• rapid mobilisation to prepare institutions for Erasmus+ participation and emerging policy changes
• clear communication with government, stakeholders and prospective students
• strategic lobbying and advocacy on immigration and international education policy
• targeted international marketing and recruitment activity, building on Scotland's strong reputation for quality, safety and student experience

Actions

• British Council to share Erasmus+ timeline and deadlines; provide inclusion and  outreach guidance; follow up on European Alliances and Gaelic/regional outreach issues
• Colleges Scotland and Universities Scotland to report on Erasmus+ sector readiness and preparation at the next meeting
• all members to provide feedback on Erasmus+  outreach plans and support awareness campaigns
• Scottish Government, Universities Scotland and Brand Scotland to explore a targeted US recruitment campaign and leverage World Cup visibility
• all stakeholders to build and share evidence on the impact of visa policy changes
• Scottish Government to confirm Commonwealth Games-related participation
• all partners to prepare for EAIE Conference and other international engagement opportunities

Date of next meeting:

Wednesday 26 August 2026, 10:00-11:30, City of Glasgow College

Agenda to include:

• Erasmus+ readiness updates
• Branding Scotland campaign update

Minister thanked everyone for their attendance and participation and reiterated looking forward to working with the group.