International Education Strategy Governance Group minutes: September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• (Chair) Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education and Minister for Veterans
• Professor Rachel Sandison, Trade & Investment Envoy for International Education
• Andy Witty, Colleges Scotland
• Claire De Braekeleer, British Council
• Gareth Williams, Prosper
• Professor Neville Wylie, Connected Scotland
• Professor Stephen Decent, RKEC
• Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion (Virtual)
• Gillian Hepburn, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) (Presenting)

Apologies

• Adam Reid, Scottish Government
• Carla Gethin, International Committee, College Development Network

• Professor Nick Forsyth, Research & Knowledge Exchange Committee, Universities Scotland

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies

The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans extended a welcome to members to the sixth meeting of this group.

Members agreed accuracy of the minutes of last meeting.

Minister noted that the IES Year 2 Priorities Progress Log had been circulated to all members. Members expressed their support for continuing with this updating format going forward.

Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education Role and Vision

The Minister invited Professor Rachel Sandison to provide an update on her role as the Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education.

Rachel welcomed everybody to the University of Glasgow.

Rachel provided an overview of recent engagements, including discussion with:
•    Various Scottish Government International Hubs
•    Consul General representatives
•    British Council
•    Regional Trade Envoys
•    Gavin Donoghue, CEO of Colleges Scotland
•    Key stakeholders across the Higher Education (HE) sector.

Rachel highlighted the shifting of international patterns and the potential impact on Scotland’s education sector:
•    UKG White Paper on Immigration: ongoing concerns around the impact of proposed immigration reforms on ability to attract and retain global talent. Rachel reported International student acceptances have decreased by 54% and 57% less applications for Postgraduate level courses. Notable declines from China, India and Pakistan.
•    In contrast, there is growing interest from the USA, particularly in liberal arts courses. Scottish Government’s Washington DC Hub supported our engagement at NAFSA and are committed to continuing to support the sector as USA is an increasingly important market.
•    The sector remains alert to Home Office policy changes including restrictions on dependants.
•    Highlighted potential impact of refusal rates and basic compliance metric changes being introduced by UKVI.

Various opportunities for the Trade Envoy and sector were identified:
•    Strengthening Scotland’s educational global brand through co-ordinated international engagement.
•    Highlighted success of Destination Marketing campaign and phase two delivery plans.
•    Working with Connected Scotland.
•    The refresh of the British Council’s HE Distinctive Assets Report, scheduled to be launched at Going Global in October 2025.
•    The European Association for International Education (EAIE) Conference will be hosted in Glasgow in 2026 – key opportunity to engage with international partners and showcase Scotland’s education offer. A separate working group has been established to co-ordinate sector wide engagement.
•    Recognition of potential decline in onshore international students, need to explore sustainable pathways for Transnational Education (TNE).
•    Sector concentrating on international partnerships and how we can collaborate with international industry.

Further work will be required by all partners to identify and maximise these opportunities, ensuring alignment with sector priorities.

Raised the need to coordinate in-country activities to maximise impact: Education delegation to Brussels next month to engage with the European Commission – opportunity for joined up engagements; coordination with other Trade & Investment Envoys around the world; how Trade and Investment can support both industry and government and how we can collaborate effectively.

The UK Soft Power Council has now been established. Rachel recently attended an education roundtable.

Working closely with Sir Steve to ensure Scotland is represented in the UK Government’s IES Review.

Members discussed the UK Government’s Immigration White Paper, with emphasis on the importance of institutions adhering to the Quality Framework to demonstrate oversight and compliance. The group noted the impact of Chinese students choosing to study in-country, alongside growth from US students and the need to prepare for any potential downturn. Practical actions to enhance Scotland’s visibility as a study destination, including strengthening its presence at international events like NAFSA and EAIE.

Concerns around sector cohesion prompted suggestions to improve collaboration and collective participation. The added value of Ministerial international visits, particularly to the US, was highlighted, with a recommendation to ensure strategic engagement is built into programmes. A joined-up approach with UK Government Ministers was also encouraged to align messaging around international education.

Participants agreed on the need for a collective response to current challenges and opportunities, including better promotion of success stories from Scottish institutions and creating a collaborative space for TNE activity.

Colleges Scotland shared that a coordinated approach with the British Council has led to success in the Scottish Education Exchange Programme (SEEP) and the Destination Scotland marketing campaign. Representation of the college sector at EAIE 2026 was raised, with the event seen as a key opportunity to showcase Scotland’s unified offer.

Optimising EAIE 2026 - Local authorities can play a role by promoting their cities as attractive destinations.

Examples of university-college collaboration, such as UWS and New College Lanarkshire, were noted. Finally, Tech Scotland’s upcoming roundtable was mentioned, with Rachel to follow up on future opportunities.

UK Government’s International Education Champion and International Education Strategy (IES) Review Updates

The Minister invited Sir Steve Smith to provide an update on his work as the UK Government’s International Education Champion and the UK Government’s IES review.

Sir Steve congratulated Rachel on her role as the Trade and Investment Envoy for International Education and recognising how her role will help to raise Scottish priorities on international education.

Sir Steve noted that he was originally appointed in 2020 and represents the whole of the UK Education sector, from school to tertiary. Priorities of the role were to help open up international exports, build strong relationships and partnerships and remove barriers.

There has been significant growth across all areas of education, growing exports from £19bn to currently standing at £32.2bn.

Increase in TNE: Co-writing TNE guidelines is creating new opportunities for UK universities, including engagement with Saudi Arabia’s Colleges of Excellence, which are establishing six new technical colleges. Scottish colleges to meet with Colleges of Excellence.

Several Scottish institutions have participated in international visits, strengthening global partnerships and visibility.

The review of the UK Government’s IES is almost complete. Have engaged with devolved governments to ensure it aligns with various policies. Original partnership with DBT and DfE, has now expanded to include the FCDO.

There will be a short document outlining the refresh strategy and later a brochure will be published externally advertising the strength of what we have to offer.

Discussions covered the Scottish IES being developed collaboratively with both sectors, and the importance of the Scottish sector being involved in the development of the UK Government’s IES review and how the refreshed strategy will be implemented. Advised that engagement has taken place across all sector groups, with priorities defined by the sectors themselves. The Education Sector Advisory Group (ESAG), jointly chaired by DBT, DfE, and FCDO—with Rachel as a member—will play a more active role in implementation. The IES is not an England-only strategy and will highlight the strengths of the entire UK’s education system.

Governance Group confirmed they are keen to offer their expertise and resourcing in the drafting of the UK IES.

Growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia were also discussed, with recognition of sensitivities and the role of education as a liberating force—57% of STEM graduates are women. These considerations are central for all international engagements.

The strength of the Nations lies in showcasing their diversity and distinct profiles, which collectively contribute to the UK’s global education offer.

SQA – Transition and International Engagement

The Minister invited Gillian Hepburn from SQA to provide an update on their international work.

Gillian provided a brief overview of SQA as Scotland’s national awarding body and will be changing to Qualifications Scotland on 1 December 2025.

Outlined international commitment:
•    Grow our centre network, delivering SQA qualifications that act as pathways to Scottish Tertiary Education
•    Amplify the Destination Scotland message
•    Use status as National Awarding Body to broker agreements to benefit the wider sector
•    Team Scotland approach
•    Working with UK Agencies
•    Financially sustainable model

Highlighted various markets they are working in, including China, South Asia, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Americas. Gillian referenced a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding in China she was looking for Minister support to sign post move to Qualifications Scotland – Mr Dey was supportive of the ask.

A new platform is being launched that will present data on international students coming to Scotland. To help inform on issues such as the barrier of four-year degree courses. Minister advised sector needs to see data when it’s available.

Discussions focused on ensuring alignment and complementarity with existing TNE activity across Scottish universities, recognising the need for accessible programmes for students unable to begin studies in Scotland due to financial or other constraints. TNE was identified as a key growth area, with interest in SQA’s model of delivering the first two years abroad followed by articulation into later years at Scottish institutions. Leveraging SQA’s 33 existing partnerships was seen as more efficient than creating new ones. While past efforts centred on articulation into Scotland, broader TNE opportunities are now being prioritised. Reference made to Universities Scotland’s (US) dedicated TNE group (Scottish HE International Partnerships Group (SHEIPG)). Potential for SQA representation on this TNE group was raised to improve visibility and information sharing.

Questions raised around: To what extent is the Scottish offer prioritised? Available data on student decision-making? When is the right time to promote Scotland’s education offer? SQA’s 50 progression partnerships globally were noted, however, Scottish offer first and foremost. Scottish universities need to be involved in international visits and discussions.

A suggestion was made to develop an “Introduction to Scotland” module within foundation programmes. The shortage of Gaelic teachers was highlighted, with a suggestion to explore collaboration with Canada. Opportunities in areas like renewable energy, supported by Memorandum of Understandings, were discussed in the context of aligning with the Government’s priorities on economic growth.

The importance of collective messaging and capacity building through SQA, was emphasised, while ensuring alignment with the overarching aims of the IES and allowing a flexible approach to engagement across institutions.

Any other business

British Council working on TNE strategy, adding Experience of Student Community to the 4 pillars.

Dates of next meeting:

Wednesday, 9 December 2025 (10:00-11:00)  – Virtual Meeting
Wednesday, 11 March 2026 (10:00-12:00) – In Person meeting, Location TBC

Actions

•    SG Officials to link in SQA and Minister’s Private Office on Memorandum of Understanding with China.
•    Colleges Scotland to follow up with SQA on collaboration around potential opportunities.
•    Universities Scotland to follow up with SQA on presenting to SHEIPG.