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Opening up Scotland to international students
30/08/2007
Funding for a further round of projects that will help international students to stay on to live and work in Scotland has been announced today.
Through the Supporting International Students Challenge Fund around £200,000 will go to 13 education institutions for a range of activities that support international students towards the end of their studies.
Minister for Europe and External Affairs Linda Fabiani said:
"Scotland has so much to offer talented students from around the world. From our world-class further and higher education institutions to our successful industries - this is a great place to live and work.
"International students bring a diversity and wealth of experience to our educational institutions - we want to see this retained in Scotland as students graduate and move into the workplace. As a truly outward looking nation we want to see the best and brightest students from abroad choosing Scotland as their home and workplace.
"One of the projects to be funded is the University of Aberdeen's Fresh Talent Career Club which provides vital networking opportunities for international students, graduates and local businesses.
"This £200,000 will go to institutions across the country to take forward 23 projects - this important work will not only help international students integrate fully but provide valuable benefits for Scottish society as a whole."
The Supporting International Students Challenge Fund supports:
- Events that bring international students together with domestic students and the local community
- Activities that provide opportunities to learn about Scotland and Scottish life
- Opportunities for international students to meet local employers and agencies, such as receptions and seminars or mentoring and work shadowing schemes
Institution | Funding 07/08 | Funding 08/09 | Total Funding September 2007 - September 2008 |
Robert GordonUniversity | | | |
e-mentoring by former students | £2250 | £450 | £2,700 |
Recruitment & Interview skills workshops | £360 | £0 | £360 |
Experiential Placement | £510 | £0 | £510 |
Stevenson College | | | |
Personal Development & Employability Training | £5300 | £60 | £5,360 |
Employability Workshops | £1550 | £1930 | £3,480 |
University ofPaisley | | | |
Buddy System | £3530 | £0 | £3,530 |
Napier University | | | |
International Alliance | £14400 | £15600 | £30,000 |
University ofSt. Andrew 's | | | |
MX Programme | £8500 | £3300 | £11,800 |
Central Collegeof Commerce | | | |
Pre-exit guidance & aftercare | £386 | £386 | £772 |
Work Placement Scheme | £4548 | £0 | £4,548 |
University ofDundee | | | |
Wise Project | £17,870 | £22,870 | £40,740 |
Heriot-Watt University- International Student Advisor | | | |
Peer Mentoring Scheme | £3650 | £1350 | £5,000 |
Glasgow CaledonianUniversity | | | |
Development of International Talent Bank | £24,000 | £0 | £24,000 |
Clydebank College | | | |
Local Business Networking Event | £4350 | £3810 | £8,160 |
University ofAberdeen | | | |
Fresh Talent Careers Club | £3019 | £10664 | £13,683 |
University ofEdinburgh | | | |
Professional & Career Development Workshops | £7816 | £11816 | £19,632 |
Edinburgh UniversityStudents Association | | | |
TANDEM Language Exchange Programme | £5321 | £3202 | £8,523 |
Heriot-Watt UniversityStudents Association | | | |
Support of Student Led Committee | £2300 | £2000 | £4,300 |
Alternative Events Programme | £3765 | £1130 | £4,895 |
University ofGlasgow - International Society President | | | |
Magazine for International Students | £300 | £0 | £300 |
Improvement of Website | £400 | £0 | £400 |
University ofGlasgow | | | |
Recruitment & Information Fair | £1600 | £0 | £1,600 |
Robert GordonUniversity | | | |
Part-time Employment Fair | £2000 | £2000 | £4,000 |
| £117,725 | £80,568 | £198,293 |
Background:
International students are 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.
From its launch in 2005 the Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students Challenge Fund has provided around £700,000 of funding to support 56 projects. For more information on the Fund and case studies of some of the projects visit www.scotlandistheplace.com/challengefund.