Monday 11 Aug 2008 @ 11:23
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Supporting international students
A new initiative is set to make studying in Scotland an even more welcoming experience for international students.
A one year pilot run by Young Scot, Scotland's national youth information and citizenship agency, will involve all new overseas students under 26 who are studying at Abertay University.
A 'welcome to Scotland' pack will be created, to give students access to advice on arrival that will help them integrate in to their new life in Scotland.
Foreign students currently studying in Scotland will be asked to get involved in the development of the scheme, by providing feedback on the support that would have helped them when they first moved here.
The pilot, which will receive £40,000 of funding from the Scottish Government, will provide Abertay's international students with a range of services and benefits supported by Young Scot. Students will also be issued with a joint university matriculation and Young Scot National Entitlement Card.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said:
"The Scottish Government wants all our young people to have the support they need to fulfil their potential - and that includes students from overseas studying in Scotland.
"Moving to a new country at a young age can be a daunting experience. We want to make these students feel at home in Scotland and improve access to the opportunities, services and advice available.
"That's why we have asked Young Scot and Abertay University to develop a one year pilot to determine how best we can improve support to international students while they are living here. We can then explore options for similar services for other overseas students studying throughout Scotland."
Gregor Urquhart, Communications Director at Young Scot, added:
"Young Scot is really looking forward to being involved in such an exciting project with Abertay University. Scotland offers so many fantastic opportunities and services to young people that it's vital we let international students know all about them and give them the chance to access them in the same way that young people from this country can.
"The 'Welcome to Scotland' pack, which we will produce in consultation with current international students, will help to do this and the Young Scot NEC card will give them discounts and special offers at high street shops, services and events.
"The international dimension has always been key to Young Scot's work and we continue to work closely with various partners to ensure that young people can live, work and play in other parts of the world, whether that's encouraging young Scots to go overseas or to welcome young visitors to our country."
Professor Bernard King CBE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University, said:
"We're delighted to be working with Young Scot on this innovative initiative. It will help to ensure that Abertay's thriving international student community has every opportunity to discover Scotland as an excellent place to work, learn and live.
"I am sure that the package we will be developing with Young Scot will significantly enhance the positive experience that Abertay, and potentially other universities in the future, can deliver to the international students who make up a growing component of our community."
The Scottish Government provides support to international students through a variety of sources, including work under the International Lifelong Learning Strategy and Fresh Talent Initiative, as well as funding for Education UK Scotland at the British Council.
More than 20 per cent of Abertay's 5,000 students come from outside the UK - a proportion that has grown considerably in recent years. Altogether, more than 70 nationalities are represented within the student body, but the majority of overseas students come from Europe, south and east Asia.
Young Scot is the national youth information and citizenship agency for Scotland and currently has a membership of over 340,000 young people across Scotland. Young Scot provides all young people in Scotland aged 11-26 with information, ideas and incentives to enable them to make informed decisions and choices, turn their ideas into action and take advantage of opportunities available throughout Scotland and Europe.
Related Information
A one year pilot run by Young Scot, Scotland's national youth information and citizenship agency, will involve all new overseas students under 26 who are studying at Abertay University.
A 'welcome to Scotland' pack will be created, to give students access to advice on arrival that will help them integrate in to their new life in Scotland.
Foreign students currently studying in Scotland will be asked to get involved in the development of the scheme, by providing feedback on the support that would have helped them when they first moved here.
The pilot, which will receive £40,000 of funding from the Scottish Government, will provide Abertay's international students with a range of services and benefits supported by Young Scot. Students will also be issued with a joint university matriculation and Young Scot National Entitlement Card.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, said:
"The Scottish Government wants all our young people to have the support they need to fulfil their potential - and that includes students from overseas studying in Scotland.
"Moving to a new country at a young age can be a daunting experience. We want to make these students feel at home in Scotland and improve access to the opportunities, services and advice available.
"That's why we have asked Young Scot and Abertay University to develop a one year pilot to determine how best we can improve support to international students while they are living here. We can then explore options for similar services for other overseas students studying throughout Scotland."
Gregor Urquhart, Communications Director at Young Scot, added:
"Young Scot is really looking forward to being involved in such an exciting project with Abertay University. Scotland offers so many fantastic opportunities and services to young people that it's vital we let international students know all about them and give them the chance to access them in the same way that young people from this country can.
"The 'Welcome to Scotland' pack, which we will produce in consultation with current international students, will help to do this and the Young Scot NEC card will give them discounts and special offers at high street shops, services and events.
"The international dimension has always been key to Young Scot's work and we continue to work closely with various partners to ensure that young people can live, work and play in other parts of the world, whether that's encouraging young Scots to go overseas or to welcome young visitors to our country."
Professor Bernard King CBE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University, said:
"We're delighted to be working with Young Scot on this innovative initiative. It will help to ensure that Abertay's thriving international student community has every opportunity to discover Scotland as an excellent place to work, learn and live.
"I am sure that the package we will be developing with Young Scot will significantly enhance the positive experience that Abertay, and potentially other universities in the future, can deliver to the international students who make up a growing component of our community."
The Scottish Government provides support to international students through a variety of sources, including work under the International Lifelong Learning Strategy and Fresh Talent Initiative, as well as funding for Education UK Scotland at the British Council.
More than 20 per cent of Abertay's 5,000 students come from outside the UK - a proportion that has grown considerably in recent years. Altogether, more than 70 nationalities are represented within the student body, but the majority of overseas students come from Europe, south and east Asia.
Young Scot is the national youth information and citizenship agency for Scotland and currently has a membership of over 340,000 young people across Scotland. Young Scot provides all young people in Scotland aged 11-26 with information, ideas and incentives to enable them to make informed decisions and choices, turn their ideas into action and take advantage of opportunities available throughout Scotland and Europe.
Related Information
