UK Government immigration policies could have a devastating impact on Scotland's universities and could cost the country's economy billions, a senior academic has warned.
Writing in The Herald, Professor Wendy Alexander, the vice-principal of the University of Dundee, has accused the Home Office of turning international students into “political footballs.”
The comments from the former Scottish Labour leader come as a new report found that the economic impact of students from overseas studying in Scotland was worth around £4.75 billion to the economy, roughly £750 for everyone who lives here.
In the Glasgow Central constituency, which takes in a fairly substantial amount of the city’s student accommodation and is home to 3,060 learners from abroad, the net benefit to the local economy is £292 million, more than any other constituency in the UK.
The report, published by Universities UK International, the Higher Education Policy Institute and Kaplan International in collaboration with London Economics said this was worth around £2,720 per local resident.
