Scotland’s Global Scholars Reception to Celebrate International Study
28th March 2023, University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum
Over 170 International Scholars came together at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum at a special event to celebrate global scholars in Scotland. The event attracted high-profile guests from 14 Scottish Universities, The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Scottish Government representatives.
Last year, Scotland welcomed over 60,000 international scholars from 180 countries around the world and the Global Scholars event was a fantastic opportunity for just a fraction of them to come together, meet with friends, network, and reflect on shared experiences of studying and work. The event was hosted by partners at Universities Scotland, SUIG, the Scottish Government, and the British Council through Study UK.
The reception was held to celebrate all international alumni, with special representation from scholarships including Chevening, Marshall, Commonwealth, StudyUK GREAT Scholarships and Women in STEM, as well as Scotland’s own Saltire Scholarships.
Inspiring stories were shared during the night, with scholars sharing top tips for studying here speaking to us about their experiences of embracing Scottish culture, getting out-and-about into the countryside, to the warm welcomes they received from their universities. They didn’t even moan too much about the weather!
Key speakers highlighted the value and the great contribution international scholars make in Scotland.
Rachel Sandison: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, External Engagement for the University of Glasgow welcomed the Scholars “It’s wonderful to welcome you all to the University of Glasgow campus and the gem that is the Hunterian museum, the oldest museum in Scotland. We are so happy that you decided to come and study in Scotland and believe that it provides a unique base for study and opportunities for developing skills, experiences, and connections”.
Lucy Young, Interim Director for British Council Scotland spoke about the work of the British Council and the importance of building international connections:
“The British Council aims to build trust and understanding between the people of the UK and rest of the world. Central to this mission is our work to support international students to come and study in the UK through the Study UK Campaign and scholarships programmes. It’s wonderful to see so many of you here who have come to study in Scotland and we know that you, as international students, have a powerful role to play in bringing new perspectives, global connections, and insights into Scotland’s universities”.
Dr Susan Pryde, Team lead, International Higher Education Science Division for the Scottish Government, also welcomed the students, saying “We welcome you to Scotland and recognise that International students have an incredibly positive impact for institutions and wider communities here. Scholars can also become amazing ambassadors as they continue their education journey in other countries, building long-lasting links”.
Malini Chakrabarty, an alumna of the University of Glasgow spoke about her own experience as a graduate studying in Scotland –“I came to Scotland from India and am at the beginning of establishing my career here. I feel that I couldn’t be in a better place than Scotland. I’ve encountered real kindness and a progressive community during and after my studies. Malini added; “Also, Scotland is beautiful! – don’t forget to take advantage of the amazing nature on your doorstep! My top piece of advice for international scholars is to build connections with each other and to not be afraid to ask for help”.
