The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee sought engagement on the challenges and opportunities faced by Scotland’s existing and aspiring exporters.

Our submission welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the  committee’s call for evidence as Scotland’s higher education sector generates export income, exporting £1.3 billion of services in 2012/13. The sector’s export income is derived from multiple sources including fees paid by international students studying in Scotland (£377 million annually) and their off-campus expenditure whilst living and studying in Scotland (estimated to be £441 million), the delivery of in-country transnational education (TNE) (£13.7 million), the delivery of research and development and knowledge exchange services to business and industry and the successful competition for European and international research funds (£110 million). Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions also play a significant additional role in the attraction of inward investment into Scotland which is a significant contribution to the ongoing prosperity of Scotland’s economy.

The opportunities and challenges facing higher education exports are outlined in our submission here.

The Committee’s report published on 13 May 2015 can be read here.