Question reference: S6W-12162
- Date lodged: 16 November 2022
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 24 November 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with Scotland’s universities regarding the efficacy and any limitations of the UK Government’s graduate visa in relation to addressing skills shortages.
Answer
The Scottish Government regularly engages with universities on matters impacting the sector.
Whilst the reinstatement of the Graduate Route in 2021 was welcomed, it remains clear that the UK Government’s immigration policy does not address Scotland’s economic, demographic and social needs.
In absence of a UK Government equivalent, the Scottish Government is developing, and seeks to pilot, a student retention programme, aiming to reduce the flow of students outside Scotland once they have completed further/higher education.