British Council Scotland and Universities Scotland have launched a new publication showcasing Scotland’s distinctive approach to international collaboration in higher education.
Scotland’s Higher Education: Partnering for Global Impact launches tonight (Wednesday, 29 October) at Scotland House in London, coinciding with the British Council’s flagship Going Global conference.
The report explores Scotland’s five distinct assets across higher education, from its tradition of education as a national public good to its world-class research and strong graduate employability outcomes. The report notes that a whole-sector commitment to quality and the positive interplay between international and local engagement demonstrate what makes Scotland’s offer unique, both in the UK and globally.
International partnerships are crucial for Scotland’s universities. The report finds that more than 70,000 international students from over 150 countries currently choose to study at Scottish universities. According to the most recent Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Graduate Outcomes survey, 87 per cent of international graduates from Scottish universities are in either employment or further study 15 months after graduation, a higher rate than the other nations of the UK.
Speaking ahead of publication, Harish Lokhun, Head of Education at British Council Scotland, said: “We help connect Scotland to the world, and the world to Scotland, through the power of education and the arts. Our universities are at the heart of this work.
“We live in an ever-changing world where political, social and economic shifts remind us of the value of strong international relationships. This publication celebrates Scotland’s outstanding universities, the expertise they offer, and the ways they are tackling shared global challenges. We hope it helps pave the way for global connections and partnerships that will thrive for years to come.”
Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Scottish Government said about the report: “Our higher education sector is working in partnership to maintain and enhance Scotland’s position as a world leader in international education, research, and knowledge exchange, and this report demonstrates the benefits of strengthening global connections.”
Also commenting, Professor Andrea Nolan, former principal, Edinburgh Napier University said: “It has been a pleasure to join with our British Council colleagues and Universities Scotland in a reflection on the distinctiveness of Scotland’s higher education system that has developed over centuries, driven by intellectual curiosity, and has shaped the world in so many ways.
“In a small country, collaboration, collegiality and an international perspective are vital, and this report shows how Scotland has developed and embraced these attributes over generations. I hope the future sees our universities seek to solve the challenges of our time, and make our communities healthier, more prosperous, safer and more sustainable.”
The publication highlights that Scotland’s universities have produced 250,000 international graduates over the last 10 years, creating an extensive global network with business, social and cultural connections to Scotland. British Council’s Alumni UK network now hosts over 6,500 alumni from over 200 countries and territories who studied in Scotland or graduated from a Scottish programme that was provided globally.
Scotland’s performance in the most recent Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is also outlined in the report, which measure contributions universities are making towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Four Scottish universities are ranked in the global top 100, with the highest-ranking Scottish university sitting in 12th place globally, making Scotland the world leader for top universities per capita.
The launch event will attract guests from across the UK’s Higher Education sector including Scottish university leaders, alongside senior international delegates comprising Ministers, Vice-Chancellors, Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Directors from over 50 countries.
There will also be representation from education and science attachés and high commissioners from across consulates, coming together to celebrate Scotland’s higher education assets, to network and to develop international opportunities for Scotland’s sector.
The report highlights how Scotland’s 19 universities are tackling global challenges through sustainable partnerships that put quality and societal impact at their heart, a model that directly addresses this year’s Going Global conference theme: Resilience, Values, Innovation: Surviving and Thriving in a Volatile World.
Going Global is the British Council’s flagship Higher Education conference for leaders in international education to debate the future of further and higher education. This year it takes place in London from 28-30 October 2025 at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster,
The report can be accessed via British Council Scotland’s website: https://scotland.britishcouncil.org/scotlands-higher-education-partnering-global-impact
This publication continues British Council Scotland’s work in building trust and understanding between the UK and countries overseas through arts, culture and international exchange. To find out more about our work in Scotland visit scotland.britishcouncil.org or follow @BCScotland on Twitter or on Instagram at @britishcouncilscotland.
