This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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More support for Fresh Talent in universities
05/09/2006
The Executive is continuing to support international students and help them experience the full benefits of living and working in Scotland.
An additional £200,000 funding to the Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students Challenge Fund was announced today.
Now in its second year, the Challenge Fund helps universities and colleges set up projects designed to provide practical help and advice to international students during their studies in Scotland.
Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe said:
"Scotland is renowned for its first-class education system and its warm and friendly people. The Fresh Talent Challenge Fund promotes both these Scottish qualities by giving international students the support and opportunity to fully experience Scottish life during their studies.
"The Challenge Fund supports projects which bring international students together with domestic students and their local communities. The funding is also used for projects which allow international students to meet local employers and agencies, and generally find out about the opportunities open to them following graduation.
"The Fresh Talent initiative aims to attract bright, motivated individuals to come to live, work or study in Scotland. International students are those individuals. They help grow Scotland's economy and have a positive impact on our cultural diversity.
"The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme enables students to stay in Scotland for two years following graduation without the need for a work permit, encouraging students to remain in Scotland after their studies. However, we must also ensure overseas students get the most out of their time in Scotland during their studies.
"This is the second year the funding has been granted to universities and colleges. In the first year over 2,000 students and their families throughout Scotland received support from Challenge Funded projects.
"This year's successful projects will build on last year's work and help even more international students to integrate and enjoy Scottish life."
The successful Challenge Fund projects and funding amounts for 06/07 and 07/08 are listed below:
- University of Dundee - £4,400
Preparing for employment - Ayr College - £2,000
Career Fund - Stevenson C ollege - £15,795
Preparing for employment - Motherwell College - £20,971
Project 1 - Creation of industrial/placement links - expansion of "Earn while you learn" initiative
Project 2 - Cross Cultural Social Integration Programme - Stirling University - £30,000
Project 1 - Employability Skills Programme
Project 2 - Workplace Language and Communication Skills
Project 3 - Understanding Scotland - North Glasgow College - £2,080
Identification of progression routes - Elmwood College - £11,461
Employability and Citizenship Workshops - Edinburgh Telford College - £18,200
Support in accessing employment opportunities - University of Aberdeen - £21,005
Fresh Talent Careers Club - University of Abertay - £4,000
Careers Orientation Programme for International students - Banff & Buchan College - £3,150
Local Integration
St Andrew's University - £10,500
International Student Development Programme - Heriot-Watt University - £5,400
Practise interviewing events - University of Glasgow - £43,760
International Enterprise Academy
Year 2 - Support for families of international students
Enhancement of international society activities
Project 1 - Development of materials for "intensive" job hunting workshops
Project 2 - Job hunting workshops
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.