Scotland Appoints New Higher Education Minister

• Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has appointed Ben Macpherson (MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith) as the new Minister for Higher and Further Education (subject to parliamentary approval).
• He replaces Graeme Dey, who is moving to a new role as Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans.

💼About Ben Macpherson

• Grew up in Edinburgh.
• Studied at the University of York and later Law at the University of Edinburgh → became a lawyer.
• Has held multiple government posts:
• Minister for Europe, Migration & International Development (2018–2020)
• Minister for Public Finance & Migration (2020)
• Minister for Rural Affairs & Natural Environment (2020)
• Minister for Social Security & Local Government (2021–2023)

He left government in 2023, but now returns to take charge of Higher and Further Education.

🎯 Government’s Perspective

• John Swinney praised Macpherson as someone with broad experience, creativity, and dynamic leadership that can help:
• Transform individuals’ lives through education.
• Support Scotland’s economic agenda.
• Macpherson himself said he is “grateful and delighted” to rejoin government and promised to work collaboratively and proactively.

🌍 Wider Context – Scotland’s Internationalisation Push

• Scotland is currently strengthening its higher education sector globally.
• In Feb 2024, Scotland launched its first International Education Strategy, aiming to:
• Attract more international students and staff.
• Promote universities and colleges abroad.
• Graeme Dey, Macpherson’s predecessor, had recently spoken at the 2025 EAIE conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, about:
• Retaining international students after graduation.
• Highlighting their contributions beyond just tuition fees (e.g., cultural, social, professional impact).
• Rachel Sandison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Glasgow, has also been appointed as Trade & Investment Envoy for International Education, tasked with promoting Scotland’s institutions worldwide.

✅In short: Scotland has reshuffled its cabinet Ben Macpherson is now responsible for higher and further education. This change comes at a time when Scotland is heavily focused on making its universities and colleges more globally competitive and retaining international students.

Scotland has appointed Ben Macpherson as the new Minister for Higher and Further Education, marking a significant step as the country continues to expand its international education strategy.

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