Nicola Sturgeon, the former Scottish first minister and current backbench MSP who is due to leave Holyrood at the next election, is urging government and universities to “double down” on soft power projection overseas, despite a more challenging political climate.
The comments come as Scotland enters a pivotal election year, with the SNP still leading the polls despite a marked drop in support, while Reform’s rise to second place in vote share reflects a broader shift in the political mood.
The wide-ranging discussion took place at a Glasgow event convened by Duolingo English Test, as part of a series of events held across the UK exploring the current geopolitical landscape and its connection to the higher and international education sectors.
Interviewed by broadcaster Sally Magnusson, Sturgeon said Scotland already “punches well above its weight” internationally but should not become complacent.
“This stuff really matters. It matters to our economy and it matters to us in terms of the projection of who we are as a country. At a time like this, even if it feels more difficult and sometimes feels less impactful, I actually think it is more important to keep doing it.”
One proposal she highlighted was the idea of a bespoke Scottish visa, which would give Scotland greater flexibility within the UK’s immigration framework. According to Sturgeon, allowing more tailored migration policies could help the country “flourish”, particularly given its demographic challenges and workforce needs.
She warned that immigration is increasingly portrayed in daily media coverage as the “source of all evil”, but maintained that Scotland has traditionally recognised the value of “a balanced, regulated – but flourishing flow of people coming into the country”.
Sturgeon also addressed the ongoing debate about whether international students should be included in net migration statistics. The former first minister expressed scepticism that arguments for removing students from the figures would gain traction in the current political climate, suggesting that many mainstream politicians – particularly in Westminster – view promises to cut immigration as electorally necessary.
“I’m not sure it’s as simple as we can just make the argument better,” she told the packed audience.
Sturgeon was not the only speaker to reflect candidly on Scotland’s global positioning. Panellists also included Rachel Sandison, deputy vice-chancellor (external engagement) and vice-principal (external relations) at the University of Glasgow, John Curtice, professor of practice politics at the University of Strathclyde and Alan Gemmell, Labour MP and former British Council country director.
In April 2025, Sandison was appointed by the Scottish government as trade and investment envoy for international education. Alongside her university leadership position, she has worked closely with government to promote Scotland’s academic strengths overseas, using international partnerships to attract students, staff and research collaboration.
She described today’s external environment as “incredibly competitive, very uncertain and very volatile”. According to her, no part of the sector is immune to shifting international student demand, shaped by security and safety concerns, the rise of anti-immigration rhetoric, evolving UK government policy, and broader economic headwinds.
Despite these headwinds, Sandison “takes comfort” in Scotland’s hospitable reputation thanks to initiatives such as the Scottish government’s International Education Strategy, released in 2024, and the country’s unique Migration Service, launched in the same year, providing information and advice for international students considering staying in Scotland post-graduation.
And she lauded Brand Scotland’s efforts and activities in destination marketing, showcasing Scotland’s 19 universities, world-class research strengths and extensive global networks.
Meanwhile, although Scotland has its own international education strategy, the UK government’s recently released international education strategy also has implications for Scottish providers.
TNE is not going to be a panacea to the sector’s financial goals, because it is not going to directly replace international student income onshore
Rachel Sandison, University of Glasgow
Dubbed an “export strategy” by Sandison, and other voices in the sector, the UK’s strategy looks to increase education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030. It’s thought that much of this growth will come from transnational education (TNE) provision and it is widely agreed that TNE is set to grow in importance for Scottish universities in years to come.
“TNE is not easy, and it’s also not going to be possible for all parts of the sector. TNE is not going to be a panacea to the sector’s financial goals, because it is not going to directly replace international student income onshore,” warned Sandison.
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