Commenting on Scotland's International Education Strategy, Andy Witty, Director of Strategic Policy at Colleges Scotland said: “The International Strategy is a welcome publication and sets a positive direction of travel.

“Colleges want to welcome students from around the world to Scotland and there is much more that colleges can do to support students achieve their qualifications here. We welcome the proposal that Scottish Government uses its promotional tools to shine a light on the many areas of skills provision where Scotland’s colleges are leading the way.  Through highlighting the world class training options available at colleges, aligned to industry, there is a powerful attraction for inward investors and international students alike.

“Students and staff from Scotland’s colleges will also benefit from the Strategy, with more opportunities and partnerships highlighted for the future. The chance to learn from colleagues abroad or learn in another country is a valuable one, and the Strategy emphasises how this can develop over time.

“It is disappointing that WorldSkills isn’t recognised in the Strategy - Colleges Scotland had advocated for more inclusion of World Skills as a strong framework to demonstrate ability and knowledge which is truly globally recognised. There will hopefully be opportunities in the future for this discussion to continue.”