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The baseline
We have good data on the number of international students who come to Scotland to study, and about the economic contribution they make. In 2005-06 in Scottish higher education institutions ( HEIs) there were over 11,000 students from other EU countries, and over 20,000 students from outside the EU.
Over the last five years, the number of EU students has increased by 36 per cent and the number of international students from outside the EU by 86 per cent. This trend is very encouraging, given that in the most recent year the Scottish numbers have risen faster than those for the UK as a whole 12.
Early indications for the current year (2006-07) are that numbers are continuing to increase.
There is also good data available on the international element within the teaching and research staff base. Universities Scotland ( US) estimate that approximately 20 per cent of the teaching staff in Scottish universities are from outside the UK, and that proportion is continually increasing.
There is also some evidence of the impact on the Scottish economy. International students were worth £370 million to the Scottish economy in 2001-02 13 (based on their expenditure on both tuition and goods and services). Universities Scotland estimate that an average overseas student taking a four year degree invests up to £50,000. This is a very significant contribution and given the increase in student numbers, we can expect the value to have risen markedly since the study was undertaken. Indeed the figure is an underestimate because it does not capture the knock-on income from related activity, such as the substantial tourism spend generated by relatives and friends visiting international students in Scotland.
Information is also available on student mobility - both into and out of Scotland. In terms of the share of the UK market for Erasmus 14 students, Scotland performs well with 13% of incoming and 14% of outgoing students respectively.
However it is worth noting that the actual number of Scottish students going to study in other European countries under the programme is less than half of the number coming in.
Work placements for international postgraduates - Scottish Networks International ( SNI) |
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Every year, in a programme unique within the UK, hundreds of candidates are interviewed before the brightest and best are chosen to become SNI Associates and undertake work placements throughout Scotland with employers who are looking to expand their international operations. |
The international work of Scotland's colleges covers a wide variety of activities. In 2005-06 the college sector attracted 5,560 international students from over 100 countries, with more than half coming from outside the EU. The sector has also formed strong partnerships with international organisations, resulting in such initiatives as the development of national systems of vocational education and training, supporting and assuring the delivery of Scottish awards overseas, and specialist contracts either overseas or in Scotland.
The launch of Scotland's Colleges International ( SCI) is an exciting new collaborative venture aimed at promoting Scotland's Colleges worldwide, contributing to international development and enhancing Scotland's cultural diversity.
One of the first tasks in implementing the strategy should be to establish the baseline for the major aspects of international activity for which evidence still needs to be gathered and evaluated. Some examples of the types of international education activity that our education institutions are engaged with is given below to illustrate the variety of projects already underway.
Illustrations of international activities |
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- Innovative practice in curriculum development, learning environments and research
- Attracting international students to come to Scotland to study
- Meeting the development needs of migrant workers to support their integration and retention in Scotland
- Developing the international interests and global employability of home students
- In-country overseas provision leading to the award of a Scottish qualification
- Joint programmes offered in collaboration with international partners
- Vocational education and skills development in an international context
- International contracts for specialist training of personnel in Scotland or overseas
- International sustainable development, environmental and other projects
- International composition of the staff community, achieved through attraction and retention of international staff as well as through links and exchanges
- Research collaborations with international partners
- Collaboration with international partners in commercialising knowledge
- Contributing to development in other countries in areas such as national systems of vocational education and training ( VET), further and higher education, and workforce planning.
Different organisations will engage in different combinations of the above, and on each item may engage in a variety of ways. |
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