Talking at an occasion in Glasgow this week, John Swinney blasted the UK’s “disastrous” resolution to go away the European Union, however urged a brand new migration route particularly for college students who select to review in Scotland.
“Twenty years in the past, the Scottish and UK governments labored collectively to launch a tailor-made migration route designed to allow worldwide college students to remain in Scotland after they graduated,” he stated. “I see no purpose why this can not occur once more.”
Underneath the plans, designed to maintain extremely expert graduates within the nation, the Scottish Graduate Visa can be linked to a Scottish tax code and be issued on the understanding that recipients would stay and work in Scotland.
However regardless of Swinney’s assurances that he was “able to work with” Downing Road on making the proposal a actuality, his concept already seems to have been rebuffed by the UK authorities.
A authorities spokesperson quoted by The Night Normal indicated that there have been “no plans” for a brand new Scottish visa, citing the UK’s Graduate Route already in place that enables worldwide college students to remain within the nation for as much as two years after they graduate.
In his speech, Swinney stated a brand new Scottish Graduate Visa would profit not solely the nation’s establishments however its financial system after worldwide college students’ commencement, highlighting that this group contributes £4.75 billion a yr.
“In small however essential methods, it might make our financial system extra sturdy, and our public companies extra sustainable. It might play an element in making our communities extra affluent,” he stated.
In small however essential methods, it might make our financial system extra sturdy, and our public companies extra sustainable
John Swinney, Scottish first minister
Mentioning that Scotland’s projected inhabitants is predicted to dip for the following two generations, Universities Scotland convener Paul Grice highlighted the advantages a Scottish Graduate Visa may deliver the nation and stated he hoped the proposal would “progress in a significant approach”.
“It might be enormously useful if a coverage house could possibly be created between governments to contemplate better regional variation of migration inside an total UK framework,” he stated.
“Inward migration shall be important to Scotland’s future and there’s a actually constructive alternative for Scotland’s universities, as magnets for the attraction and retention of highly-skilled folks, to assist ship this as a win-win for the sector and Scotland as a complete. There’s a lot to love on this define proposal.”
Though it doesn’t seem to welcome the concept of a Scottish Graduate Visa in the interim, the UK authorities appears to be embracing worldwide college students.
This week, schooling secretary Bridget Phillipson recorded a video message to worldwide college students within the UK selling the nation’s post-graduation work alternatives.
