Alyn Smith becomes next Scottish tertiary education minister

Scotland has appointed a new minister with responsibility for universities after the unexpected departure of Ben Macpherson last week.

Alyn Smith will be the next minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education at Holyrood.

A former MP for Stirling who entered the Scottish parliament at the last election, Smith takes on the brief at a crucial time for higher education.

Macpherson, who departed his role last week, had called a wide-ranging review of the system with many institutions struggling financially and having to make deep cuts.

The first report of this review, released last week, concluded that universities face an annual shortfall of £200 million, meaning they are “not sustainable in its current shape and size”.

Smith will oversee the next stages of the process that intends to come up with solutions to the crisis.

The Scottish government said he was informed of his new position via video call on 2 September because he is suffering from a minor illness.

First minister John Swinney said that Smith was “one of the most experienced parliamentarians in the UK”, given his former experience both in the Westminster parliament and the European parliament, where he served from 2004 to 2019.

“He has broad international experience and has shown long-term interest in skills, universities and colleges,” Swinney added.

“Scotland’s future prosperity will be built on the talent of our people, the strength of our universities and colleges, and our ability to turn world-class ideas into jobs, investment and opportunity.”

He said that his new “programme for government” has set out an “ambitious agenda” that includes “protecting free university tuition, expanding apprenticeships and delivering a new national skills plan”.

Other aims of the ministry are, according to Swinney, “supporting university research and spin-outs, and connecting business with academic institutions to drive innovation and growth”.

Smith studied law and European law at the University of Leeds before completing a master’s degree in European studies at the College of Europe in Warsaw.

He qualified as a lawyer and practised commercial law in London and Edinburgh before moving into politics.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com