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11. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF FTWISS
11.1 Given that there are no set targets or performance indicators for the scheme, it is difficult to make an overall assessment of whether FTWiSS has met its aims. The nature of FTWiSS, as the evidence base indicates, suggests that it is effective as a way of attracting people to study in Scotland and, within that, creating an expectation/impression that suitable employment opportunities exist in Scotland for graduates.
Expectations of FTWiSS
11.2 Research carried out at the time when FTWiSS was launched highlighted concerns amongst International Student Advisors about the expectation created around FTWiSS that work is available in Scotland and that international graduates will be able to find work aligned to their chosen career path. As Chapter 5 illustrates, however, much of the effort around FTWiSS has been focused at attracting international students meaning that, in delivery terms, "success" has been thought about more in volume rather than getting people on FTWiSS into appropriate employment. The risk is that, as discussed in Chapter 10, those "invited" to come to Scotland through FTWiSS end up in some sense "disillusioned" by their experience, especially if they had come to Scotland believing that appropriate work would be available. 86
Long Term Aims of FTWiSS
11.3 Turning to issues to do with what happens after the 2 year FTWiSS extension ends, several interviewees taking part in the qualitative research with those on FTWiSS for around 2 years pointed out that the longer term aims and objectives of FTWiSS appeared not to have been developed and planned fully and were not communicated clearly:
I don't know how well the programme has been thought through, it comes to an end and I don't know if they expect you to leave, or if in having this programme they expect you to try and get another type of visa, its not very clear on how you can transition.
I think the purpose of the Fresh Talent scheme is to let qualified people stay in Scotland, and then you have this two year period, which is a bit short, and there is no clear explanation, its not mentioned explicitly, look we want people to stay and there are means for them to stay after these two years.
There's this ambiguity about you may be able to stay past the two years. And that's something I've always wondered about and that I still wonder about. Because the thing is, I remember reading about the Fresh Talent scheme and it seemed like the idea behind it was to get people to stay indefinitely and build their lives here. So knowing that and then having this ambiguity about after two years you might be able to stay, that's the thing that would be nice to know.
11.4 Many also highlighted the contradiction between the supposed aim of the Fresh Talent policy and the reality of changing immigration status to be able to remain in Scotland. They argued that if the aim of the policy was to attract skilled people to settle in Scotland in the medium to long term, more would need to be done to facilitate the transition onto work permits or the HSMP. One participant pointed out that currently, a person on FTWiSS had as much of a chance of staying in the country as a visitor or somebody on a working holidaymakers visa. Interviewees felt that despite having made a contribution to the Scottish economy and society, no effort was made to retain them:
I was allowed to plant something and just when it started to grow, someone is cutting it, that is not right, I should be given the possibility to extend my stay here.
Basically we are here, we are highly qualified and we benefit this country, and a bit more stability in this respect so I'd be able to plan say 10 years in advance would be good.
The Overall Purpose of FTWiSS
11.5 Interviewees argued that if, on the other hand, the policy aim of Fresh Talent was merely to allow graduates to gain work experience for two years, this should be made clearer at the start of the two years. Most participants felt that an expectation had been created at the beginning of the scheme that efforts would be taken to encourage individuals to stay after the two years, e.g. support for changing immigration status, which added to the sense of disappointment at the lack of options available. However, interviewees did understand the difficulty in providing the necessary support in Scotland when immigration is controlled by the UK Home Office.
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