This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Blood donation ban on transfusion patients
17/03/2004
First Minister Jack McConnell last night extended a warm
welcome to Marshall Scholars visiting Scotland - telling
them that their talent is wanted at Scottish
universities.
Mr McConnell was hosting at a reception at Edinburgh
Castle to honour the Marshall Scholars - American students
who come to study at British universities each year.
He said he was delighted to see so many talented young
people in Edinburgh and encouraged more of them to come and
study at Scotland's excellent universities.
The First Minister also announced measures to allow two
further Marshall Scholars to study in Scotland each
year.
He said:
"I warmly welcome the Marshall Scholars to Scotland. You
are exactly the type of people we want to attract to our
universities, and to Scotland. I encourage more of you to
come and study here.
"Scotland is a great place to study. Our universities
are first class, our cities are thriving and our country
welcomes you. Increasing the profile of Scotland throughout
the world is a priority of our government. Our Universities
- and those who study at them - have an important part to
play in this.
"We want to encourage overseas students who graduate
from Scottish universities to consider making Scotland
their home. I am pleased to welcome you to Scotland
today."
The Marshall Scholarships were established in 1953 and
are aimed at bringing intellectually distinguished young
Americans - who may one day become leaders, opinion formers
and decision makers - to the UK for study.
£50,000 funding per year will be made available to
enable two Marshall Scholars to undertake an additional
third year of study at a Scottish university. This will be
open to all Marshall Scholars.
Previous Marshall Scholars include Ray Dolby, inventor
of Dolby Digital and Pulitzer Prize winners Dan Yergin and
Thomas Friedman.
During the reception Mr McConnell met Alex Heneveld, a
former Marshall Scholar who stayed on in Scotland after
graduating and set up his own business employing 14
people. Pocketwatch Systems created "PocketHub" - an
innovative software product which enables mobile phone
users to remotely access their own PC wherever they are (
www.pocketwatchsystems.com).
Edinburgh University is the fourth most popular choice
of university for Marshall Scholars after Oxford, Cambridge
and the London School of Economics.
There are 93 funded Marshall Scholars in the UK. Six are
currently studying in Scotland. Three at the University of
Edinburgh, and three at St Andrews University.
The number of US students at Scottish Higher Education
Institutions has increased significantly by around 76%
since 1997-98.