Scotland’s universities have a rich tradition of excellence in education coupled with a proud history of innovation and a forward-thinking approach to entrepreneurship, creating the perfect environment for economic growth and investment opportunities.
Across our major cities, Scotland’s Universities play a pivotal role in a dynamic ecosystem that nurtures talent, and prepares our graduates for high-growth industries.
Nurturing talent
Scottish universities drive growth by creating a robust talent pool and developing essential skills among students. This year Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh College have joined forces to offer a continuous education journey from entry-level qualifications to graduate degrees, designed to help students thrive and set out on fulfilling careers, aligned with industry needs as they enter the workforce.
Our universities and cities also retain students at a noteworthy rate. Universities in Glasgow top the list for all UK cities where students decided to stay following their graduation, closely followed by Edinburgh as the only two cities with over a 50% retention rate, reflecting our high standard of education as well as the quality of life and scale of opportunity available in our major cities.
The Scottish Government has also laid out Scotland’s international education strategy which actively welcomes international students, recognising the valuable contribution they make to the Scottish economy. In 2022/23 more than 83,000 students from over 180 different countries came to study in Scotland, further enriching our talent pool.
Fueling high-growth industries
As well as learning and staying in Scottish cities, our students are going on to play critical roles in high-growth industries, rife with investment opportunities. As well as being at the global forefront of research and innovation, our university’s offer world-leading courses in culture and creativity sectors, giving graduates a pathway into our rapidly growing film, television, and gaming sectors amongst others.
A great example of this culture of entrepreneurship and innovation comes in Aberdeen where Robert Gordon University (RGU), has successfully delivered four startup incubator programs that have created 96 businesses. Meanwhile Aberdeen University is proving critical to the success of one of the largest clusters of energy tech businesses in Europe, with 41% of its graduates going directly into STEM based careers each year.
Looking at alternative higher-education paths, research from the Fraser of Allander Institute showed that college graduates boost employment, increase wages and contribute to increased trade and investment, benefitting the Scottish economy to the tune of £52 billion cumulatively over a 40-year working life as a college graduate.
The economic impacts
A recent report commissioned by London Economics showed that for every pound invested into Scotland’s universities, almost £11 is returned to the economy placing Scotland at the forefront of the UK Nations. Moreover, our cities’ world-class universities contribute £11 billion to the UK economy every year with a significant £4.75 billion of this said to have come directly from international students.
The availability of a skilled workforce, combined with a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, creates a compelling case for businesses or investors looking to establish or expand their operations in Scottish Cities.
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