An SNP politician who previously called for an “audit” of Chinese engagement with Scottish universities has been appointed as the new minister for tertiary education.

Alyn Smith, a former MEP and MP who was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May this year, has been picked to succeed Ben Macpherson as Scottish Government minister for innovation, technology and tertiary education, serving under the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan.

During his tenure in Westminster as MP for Stirling from 2019 to 2024, Smith repeatedly raised concerns about educational links between Scotland and China, in particular through the Confucius Institutes.

Scotland has one of the highest concentrations of Confucius Institutes per capita in the world, with five institutes across its universities – at times benefiting from Scottish Government funding. Virtually all of Scotland’s higher education institutions have academic and research links with China.

In November 2020, Smith made an intervention in a House of Commons debate in which he challenged the UK government to set out “plans for an audit of Chinese engagement with our academic infrastructure, and particularly of Confucius Institutes and their activities in the UK”.

Writing in The National a month later, he said: “Language classes and cultural exchanges are of genuine value and should be continued. However, I think it is vitally important that we become more aware of what is going on in our own backyard and of the less obvious ways in which China is gaining a foothold in our society.”

He added: “We cannot allow ourselves to facilitate Beijing’s censorship and spreading of propaganda under the guise of teaching.”

He continued to raise the issue in subsequent years, tabling a series of five written questions in Westminster on the matter in January and February 2023.

Smith’s appointment to his ministerial position is subject to parliamentary agreement and the formal approval of the King.

In a statement, First Minister John Swinney said: “I am very pleased to appoint Alyn Smith as minister-designate for innovation, technology and tertiary education.

“Alyn is one of the most experienced parliamentarians in the UK, having served in both the European and UK parliaments before being elected as an MSP. He has broad international experience and has shown long-term interest in skills, universities and colleges.

“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.”