The Scottish Government has appointed an international education envoy in a bid to drum up cash for the country’s universities.

Rachel Sandison was given the unpaid role by business minister Richard Lochhead ahead of a trip to China and Japan.

Her appointment comes as Scotland’s university sector struggles financially, with Peter Mathieson - principal of Edinburgh University - openly raising the spectre of scrapping free tuition fees for Scottish students.

His institution has announced a £140m funding gap, while Dundee University is wrestling with a £35m deficit and allegations of mismanagement by previous bosses, which is likely to lead to the cutting of around 700 jobs.

Sandison, currently the deputy vice chancellor for external engagement at Glasgow University, said: “Global connectivity is more important than ever before and I look forward to helping connect Scotland’s further and higher education institutions with international organisations, governments and opportunities in support of Scotland’s strategic objectives.

“I am also pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with Sir Steve Smith, the UK’s international education champion, to advocate for the sector at home and overseas and to reinforce Scotland’s position as a destination of choice for global talent.”

Lochhead said: “Scotland’s research and academic excellence is recognised the world over.

“As our new trade and investment envoy for international education, Rachel will champion Scotland’s academic institutions and the innovative contributions they are making in fields as diverse as artificial intelligence, art and tackling climate change.

“She will help attract investment and encourage the brightest students and leading researchers to study, live and work in Scotland, contributing to the economy.”

This comes as sector body Colleges Scotland warned that investment in Scotland’s colleges is “badly needed”, as funding has been cut in real terms.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) announced its allocations to each college on Thursday, with just eight of the country’s institutions given a real-terms increase in funding.

Colleges Scotland said it is “critical” more funding is provided, following a 17% drop since 2021-22.

In total, £522.5m has been provided for colleges in 2025-26, up from £509.2m last year, but below the rate of inflation.

Graeme Jackson, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: “The allocations announced today confirm that eight colleges will receive funding which is above inflation; the remaining colleges and college region will receive funding which is at or below inflation.

“We appreciate the effort that the Scottish Funding Council has gone to in terms of revising the model which decides the funding for each college.

“Unfortunately, the mitigations on offer to transition to the revised model haven’t been explained in full to the sector as yet.

“Increased employer national insurance contribution costs for colleges are also incredibly concerning and will cost colleges millions of pounds.

“Colleges Scotland will continue to raise this issue with the Scottish Government – in England colleges are receiving 100% of additional NI costs.“

He added: “College funding overall has dropped 17% since 2021-22 and more investment is badly needed to provide students with the right skills to help critical sectors of the economy grow.”

SFC chief executive Francesca Osowska said the body had “worked hard” to provide fair allocations in a “difficult financial environment”.

She added: “Changes announced today follow discussions with key groups within the sector and are accompanied by measures to mitigate any adverse impact on individual colleges.

“The announcement looks towards safeguarding college education in the long term as well as supporting next year’s college students by investing in the opportunities they deserve.”

Scottish Labour education spokeswoman Pam Duncan-Glancy said the sector had been “let down” by the Scottish Government.

“Colleges are engines of skills and anchors in their communities – it is socially and economically incompetent for the SNP to inflict these cuts,” she said.

“Our economy is being held back by skills shortages, Scottish students are missing out on opportunities, and college staff need support, but the SNP continues to undervalue the sector.”

But colleges minister Graeme Dey responded: “Our colleges have an important role in providing those who have the greatest barriers to learning with the opportunity to fulfil their potential, whether by up-skilling for future careers or providing strong pathways to higher levels of study at college and university.

“That’s why in the Budget we provided a 2.1% uplift for colleges, and an additional £3.5m to support colleges to create a pipeline of skilled workers in offshore wind and social care.

“Individual colleges are best placed to respond flexibly to emerging trends at local and regional level, and the indicative allocations published by SFC will enable colleges to move forward with planning for academic year 2025-26.

“The 2.6% increase in teaching funding compared with last year includes an additional £4.5m for lecturers’ pay and £8.3m for pensions, while an increase of almost 5% in capital maintenance funding will help colleges further invest in student’s learning experiences.

“The student support budget has been maintained at the same level as last year, despite pressures on the public purse.

“The college sector called for greater transparency and the ability to compare funding for students on similar courses across institutions, and the SFC has been able to meet that ask.”

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