Geographers at the University of St Andrews have examined Scotland’s migration ‘needs’ and the extent to which policy could better respond to them. Research has substantiated immigration policies, influenced political debates around immigration policy, and informed citizen understanding of issues relating to migration.
Issue
Immigration is a contentious issue in most relatively high-income countries. Whilst control over immigration policy has largely been retained by the UK Government, the Scottish Government and key stakeholders in Scotland and the wider UK have argued for greater autonomy. This has led to debates over immigration policy in the context of constitutional change.
Approach
The research examined economic and political aspects of constitutional change and their implications for the future of the UK and Scotland. Research was carried out in the run up to the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, and after in the context of Brexit.
Impact
The research findings demonstrated that Scotland merits a distinct immigration policy, and an illustration of how this could work in practice was considered at the House of Commons’ Scottish Affairs Committee on Demography of Scotland and the Implications of Devolution in 2016.
The researchers have promoted findings to a diverse audience through popular media, such as the BBC Sunday Politics Programme and the Guardian Live Chat, and debates attended by the general public and journalists, such as the Edinburgh Festival of Politics and David Hume Institute.
The team have frequently collaborated with policy stakeholders to communicate the research. In May 2017, the researchers helped inform the Scottish Governments position on EU migrants and free movement post-Brexit. The impact on international students was a key concern and research informed the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recommendations to the UK Government with regards to policy on international students.
More information
Institution: University of St Andrews
Researchers: Dr David McCollum, Professor Hill Kulu, Professor Allan Findlay