This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Support for international students in Scotland
20/09/2005
Details of projects to support international students who choose to study in Scotland were announced today.
The Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students Challenge Fund is supported by £300,000 of Executive funding. The 12 successful projects will support international students during their studies in Scotland and help them make decisions about whether to stay on in the country at the end of their studies.
Finance and Public Service Reform Minister Tom McCabe said:
"There is no doubt Scotland offers a great quality of life with a first-class education system and a growing economy. Scots are warm and friendly and the Fresh Talent Challenge Fund provide some practical help to ensure that international students are offered support and opportunities to fully experience the famous Scottish welcome, and to get to know Scotland a bit better.
"We want to ensure that all international students enjoy their time in Scotland and feel welcome and supported during their time here. All the projects which will benefit from this Challenge Fund will help do that - I am extremely impressed by these projects, and, in particular, by the collaboration and innovation they have demonstrated."
The Challenge Fund supports events and activities which are organised for students during and towards the end of their studies, such as:
- events/activities which bring international students together with domestic students, and others in their local communities, and provide opportunities to learn about Scotland and Scottish life; and
- receptions/seminars or mentoring/work shadowing schemes which allow international students to meet local employers and agencies, and generally find out about the opportunities open them following completion of their studies
International students have been identified as a key target of the Executive's Fresh Talent policy, which aims to attract and retain bright, motivated and hard-working people to live, work and study in Scotland to support economic growth.
Other schemes encouraging international students to stay on in Scotland are in place, such as the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme. This allows international graduates to live and work in Scotland for up to two years after graduation without a work permit. For further details, see www.scotlandistheplace.com
The successful Challenge Fund projects are listed below:
Institution(s)
University of Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University and Aberdeen College
Project Description
International Student Programme - Aberdeen City Careers Conference for International Students
Funding 2005/06 £32,500
TOTAL £32,500
University of Abertay Dundee, University of Dundee and Dundee College
Programme of activities targeted on international students
Funding 2005/06 £44,500
Funding 2006/7 £4,000 TOTAL £48,500
University of Edinburgh/ AGCAS Scotland
Development of on-line seminar and set of supporting teaching materials for international students
Funding 2005/06 £5,550
Funding 2006/7 £1,520
TOTAL £7,070
Edinburgh College of Art/ Glasgow School of Art Cultural and Creative Industries
Work Shadowing Scheme
Funding 2005/6 £42,000
Funding 2006/7 £2,000
TOTAL £44,000
Edinburgh's Telford College
International Student Internship Project
Funding 2005/6 £15,700
Funding 2006/7 £14,200
TOTAL £29,900
University of Glasgow
International Family Programme for families and spouses of international students
Funding 2005/6 £14,700
Funding 2006/7 £8,760 TOTAL £23,460
James Watt College
Social and curricular activities, linking international students with local schools
Funding 2005/6 £7,750
Funding 2006/7 £2,250
TOTAL £10,000
Moray College
Programme of activities for international students to encourage integration and create opportunities to meet local employers.
Funding 2005/6 £6,000
Funding 2006/7 £2,000
TOTAL £8,000
University of St Andrews
Work shadowing and placement opportunities for students with employers in Fife
Funding 2005/6 £10,500
Funding 2006/7 £9,500 TOTAL £20,000
University of Stirling
Scotland Insight Programme
Funding 2005/6 £21,650
Funding 2006/7 £4,350
TOTAL £26,000
University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow, University of Paisley, Glasgow Caledonian University, Bell College
Opportunities to Work in Scotland careers sessions for international and UK students
Funding 2005/6 £11,315
Funding 2006/7 £1,885
TOTAL £13,200
UHI Millennium Institution (Environmental Research Institution)
Establishment of International Students Association/Organisation, development and delivery of a Future Opportunities Programme and provision of online resources
Funding 2005/6 £19,050
Funding 2006/7 £7,900
TOTAL £26,950