Chamber and committees

On what basis do you think that it is a technical arrangement only?

My understanding is that there are around 11,000 undergraduate students, of which 5,000 go on to do postgraduate courses elsewhere in the UK. That is a pretty big number. Do you know how many of those people will now be able to access free tuition as a result of the changes?

I appreciate that assurance, and I would welcome further correspondence on the numbers. However, if you do not put a particular number on what you would consider to be substantial, that presents a question for universities. We already know that there is demand for capped places and that it outstrips the supply. The regulations could further increase that demand—for good reason, as I set out when I started. However, it is only fair that universities understand what the likely costs could be and what the implication for funding and capped places will be.

Thank you. I appreciate that, minister.

I reiterate Willie Rennie’s thanks to the minister for coming today, because I know that this is an unusual situation. I thank the minister for shifting things around in order to be here.

This issue first came to my attention when my colleague Paul Sweeney, who was then an MP, wrote to John Swinney in 2017 about a family who were really struggling to get access to, and wanted to contribute through, this system, so I understand, value and support the changes that are in the regulations.

However, my concern is that universities, given their current circumstances, need to understand what the regulations will mean for places and for finance. How many more people does the minister believe will be able to access home tuition fee rates and living costs as a result of the changes that are to be made?

How did you arrive at those figures?

Thank you—that is much appreciated.

I have one other short question. You said in the evidence that you submitted that there could be opportunities with regard to education reform for the exchange programme that is developed. What opportunities would those be?

Thank you for indulging me with a final question, convener. My question is for our colleagues in Wales. Am I right in saying that, in the time since Erasmus closed, you have been able to develop a system, policies, procedures and relationships, set up an organisation and deliver for all the students you have spoken about? If that is the case, do you have any sense of why the Scottish Government has not been able to do the same thing?

Good morning to the witnesses; thank you for answering the questions so far and for the information that you have given us in advance, which I have found particularly helpful.

I will start by putting questions to our colleagues from Wales. I am really keen to understand a bit more about how the system that you created has reached out to underrepresented groups and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Will you tell us a bit about how successful Taith has been in doing that? What are the key aspects of the programme that have made it successful in that regard?

Does your programme offer shorter-term exchanges?

What engagement have you had with the Scottish Government about that aspect of the scheme?