Chamber and committees

Ms Watt, you mentioned that the Scottish Funding Council previously called for multiyear funding. You do not have that at the moment. What further action do you believe that the Scottish Government can take now to enable the SFC to provide more support for institutions? You have talked about multiyear funding as one element. Is there anything else?

I know that it is a major issue, but I am just wondering about what I see as the need for universities and possibly colleges to cross-subsidise, so that the money raised from international students helps maintain the funding available to home students from Scottish towns and cities. Is there a way of using that international money to support home students in that way?

Does anyone else want to add anything?

That is very useful. Colleges exist in order to provide education and life chances for their students. That is something that we always talk about. However, college buildings can fall into disrepair, and funding for urgent maintenance can become important. We are told that demand for that has outstripped the funding that is available at the moment. Can the SFC help colleges with that side of things?

I thank the panel members for their helpful responses. If we look forward a wee bit to the Scottish Government’s 2025-26 budget, is there a way in which the Scottish Government can use that to begin to address the issue of international student income cross-subsidising the teaching of home students? Is there a way in which the Scottish Government can use that budget to try to influence the money that comes from international students? I know that Professor Gillespie talked about that earlier.

Do you think that the number of international students helps ensure fairer access and better opportunities for home-domiciled students?

Thank you. I agree that it could be useful to have that information.

That is very helpful.

Yes.

What level of urgency do you perceive on the part of the Scottish Government regarding support for further and higher education just now?