Listen
Student exchange programme
04/12/2008
A scheme which helps students undertake overseas work placements, while also enabling Scottish business to benefit from foreign students' expertise, is to be extended thanks to additional Scottish Government funding.
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) - which arranges global work experience placements for undergraduate students and recent graduates in science, engineering and architecture - is to receive more than £250,000 to extend the scheme during the next three years.
The funding, which will further support the Scottish Government's economic recovery plan, will:
- Enable 100 young people from Scotland to undertake technical placements in overseas companies, broadening their work and life skills each year and enabling them to play a key role in Scotland's future economic success
- Enable 100 Scottish companies and university research departments to annually host overseas science and engineering students with expertise in life sciences, renewables, manufacturing and electronic technologies, to help develop these sectors and help our economy recover more quickly from the current economic downturn
- Help increase awareness of Scotland as a place to live, work and study among overseas applicants and agencies
- Encourage increased engagement between Scottish business and industry on the employment of international talent
- Contribute towards the globalisation of Scotland's workforce by creating high quality international work experience opportunities for young Scots
The Cabinet Secretary of Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, said:
"We want to build a self-confident, outward looking Scotland. We also want to ensure Scotland becomes a more attractive place to live, work and study to help our nation emerge strongly and recover more quickly from these difficult economic times.
"The IAESTE programme contributes to these goals by increasing our students' universal employability and attracting talented students and graduates to Scotland. It also helps develops strong international partnerships between universities and key businesses, at home and abroad - essential for Scotland's future economic success.
"In recent years the programme has grown to include more than 80 countries, offering exchanges to 6,000 students a year. The number of Scottish placements has also increased more than threefold from 40 to 142 in the past two years. I want to support that continued development and enable more young undergraduates, businesses and universities to participate."
Roy Cross, Director British Council Scotland welcomed the increase in funding:
"We are delighted with the increased government support for the IAESTE programme in Scotland. IAESTE provides students with the opportunity to gain practical industry experience in an international environment. It offers invaluable experience for students, but also benefits Scottish companies receiving international trainees who provide a fresh perspective and international outlook to our workforce.
"Previous students have worked on award winning assignments, have been credited in published academic research and have gone on to full time employment with the company, either in the UK or their home country.
"We are currently looking to recruit employers from the science and engineering industry in Scotland who would be able to offer placements to foreign trainees next summer. Without the support of such employers, we would not be able to send students from Scotland abroad - students who will return home with the transferable skills that the graduate market so desperately needs."
Mubbasher Khanzada, director of a Welltime Ltd - an IT start up business based in Glasgow, first encountered the IAESTE programme as a student in his homeland Pakistan, completing a three month placement with an oil and gas company in Tajikistan. Upon rediscovering the scheme in the UK, he was keen to get involved as an employer and to date has had three trainees complete short term placements at Welltime Ltd.
He said:
"Without a doubt one of the biggest scheme's benefits is the high quality of the students. They may not have a great amount of job experience but they have the necessary qualifications and training to get the job done. They bring a fresh perspective that is innovative and I would give experience for innovation any day. Through an IAESTE student, you also have the potential to create a great ambassador for your business, who can promote you on an international stage. Before you know it your sales are increasing and your numbers are up.
"From a personal point of view, I know the importance for students to gain experience to put on their CV and international experience is particularly sought after. It is only since arriving in the UK that I have discovered the subtle cultural differences that are so often erroneously portrayed in the world media. Through IAESTE, we are creating students with an open mind, allowing them to experience things for themselves and develop a mutual understanding and harmony across nations."
Barbara Graham, Director of the Careers Services at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow said:
"We recommend the programme to our science and engineering students as a superb means of enhancing both their relevant technical work experience and their cross-cultural awareness. Students who have benefited from a placement are the best ambassadors for the programme. On their return they display a noticeable increase in confidence and have accumulated a range of experiences which they can use to demonstrate to employers their transferable skills, flexibility and ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds."
Three Scottish IAESTE trainees have successfully made it through to join six others in the final of the UK Trainee of the Year award which will be held at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London on December 5. This follows on from last year's success where Scottish finalists won first and second prize.
IAESTE is a global work experience programme that arranges international work placements for undergraduate and recent graduate scientists, engineers and architects. It aims to provide students in higher education with technical experience relevant to their studies and to offer employers well-qualified and motivated trainees. It has been operating for more than 60 years and in the UK is managed by the British Council.
The average placement lasts for six to 12 weeks but can be up to a year. IAESTE UK takes care of visas, work permits and accommodation, leaving the supervisor free to get the most from having the student with them. The service that we provide, in sourcing the student and taking care of the administration, is completely free. The only cost to the company is the student's salary, which must adhere to at least minimum wage."
The British Council works in 110 countries and territories worldwide to build intercultural understanding between the UK and other countries through the arts, education and training, science and technology, sport, good governance and human rights. Its income in 2006-07 was £551 million, of which grant-in-aid from the UK Government was £195 million.