Global scholars gather at Dundee welcome reception
19th November 2024, Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee
Over 150 international scholars representing 50 countries gathered at Dundee's Victoria and Albert Museum, joining representatives from Scottish universities , The Scottish Government and Connected Scotland for a celebration of international education.
The day-long event began with an Employability Marketplace where Scholars had the opportunity to meet with 15 organisations to explore career opportunities in Dundee and further afield. Major employers at the event included HSBC, Tata Consultancy Services, The Challenges Group, and Dechomai. The Scholars had the chance to make new connections and to explore opportunities to build their careers with some innovative Scottish and global industries.
During the evening reception at the museum, scholars were welcomed by senior education leaders and government representatives. "International scholars are vital to Scotland's education environment, economy, and communities," said Professor Wendy Alexander, Scottish Government's Trade & Investment Envoy for Higher Education. "UK graduates are among the most employable in the world, with three-quarters of international students progressing further, being promoted quicker, and earning more because of their UK education. It's been a wonderful event to celebrate Scotland's global scholars and to reiterate our commitment to welcoming and supporting international talent."
Dundee itself was also on show, named 'Britain's Coolest Little City' by GQ magazine and highlighted in TIME's World's Greatest Places, The city is obviously a hit with global scholars attending Higher Education institutions including Abertay and University of Dundee.
Bradley Schreiber is a second year Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Dundee. Originally from South Africa, he chose to study in Scotland for the unique opportunities it had to offer him. He said "Scotland has offered me not just world-class engineering education, but a chance to be part of a truly international community. The support and welcome I've received here in Dundee has been incredible - from the teaching staff to the city itself."
Professor Alastair Irons, Deputy Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Abertay University spoke about Scotland as a destination for study: "As a nation, Scotland absolutely prides itself on welcoming the world to our beautiful country and it was fantastic to be able to welcome students from around 50 different countries to this special event at V&A Dundee. International students are integral to the future of all Scottish universities and those who choose to study here bring fresh perspectives, cultural richness, and invaluable expertise to our campuses, fostering an environment where innovation thrives, collaboration deepens, and communities grow ever stronger."
International Scholars at the event shared their experiences of studying here. Noela Opingo, a GREAT Scholar from Kenya studying MSc Human Rights with Professional Practice at Glasgow Caledonian University, praised the academic support: "The best thing about studying in Scotland so far is the system and the support you get from university. There are departments that you can engage with in terms of career support, academic writing... I love that about Scotland, and my university specifically."
Merve Aydemir, a Chevening Scholar from Turkey studying at the University of Edinburgh, offered advice to future applicants: "If anyone is considering applying for an international scholarship, I would say just be yourself. Be passionate about your area of expertise, be confident and show a willingness to broaden your knowledge."
Scholars from top global scholarship programmes joined the event, including Chevening, Women in Stem, Commonwealth, GREAT, and Marshall Scholarships. They are studying at universities across the country from Aberdeen to the Highlands. During breaks between sessions, attendees explored the V&A's current exhibitions, including the Kimono display.
Peter Brown, Director, British Council Scotland closed the event saying: "The British Council's longstanding commitment to international education continues to evolve and strengthen. Through our Study UK Campaign and scholarship programmes, we're not just facilitating education - we're helping build connections and global understanding."
"The courage it takes to study abroad is remarkable and was wonderful to hear so many stories from the scholars. These stories are testament to how Scotland's universities excel at nurturing international talent. International scholars enrich our academic communities with diverse perspectives and new thinking, and the connections made here will create lasting benefits for both Scotland and our scholars' home countries."
The event was organised in partnership with between the British Council, Study UK, the Scottish Government, Brand Scotland, Universities Scotland, Connected Scotland, and with Abertay University and the University of Dundee.
This event continues the British Council’s work, building connection, understanding and trust between people in the UK and overseas through arts, education and English language teaching. To find out more about their work in Northern Ireland visit https://scotland.britishcouncil.org or follow on X/Twitter, or Facebook .
