Over 270 students from Scottish universities will have the opportunity to travel to India, China, the US and Europe as part of their studies in this year’s round of the Outward Mobility Fund.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Angela Constance revealed how grants totalling more than £143,000 will be shared by nine universities and one students’ association.
Ms Constance said:
“The benefits of studying abroad are well documented - language skills, intercultural understanding, new ways of working and greater employment prospects are just a few - and I am delighted that this year we are providing more Outward Mobility Fund money than ever before.
“The Fund aims to support students who might otherwise find it difficult to take up these opportunities so I’m very pleased to announce today that so many young people will be able to benefit from studying abroad.”
Edinburgh Napier University secured match-funding to take a group of college and university computing students to meet their counterparts in collaborative project with University of Pittsburgh, and Glasgow Caledonian University biomedical students will go on a four-month study exchange to Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Strathclyde Students’ Association also successfully secured match-funding for their project which aims to break down the barriers to longer-term study abroad placements. Welcoming the announcement, Rhianna Humphrey, their Policy and Campaigns Adviser said:
“The University of Strathclyde Students’ Association is delighted to receive the funding for our Outward Mobility project. This project is specifically aimed at students that are least likely to go on exchange trips such as disabled students, mature students and postgraduate students.
“By tackling some of the barriers and challenges faced by these students in order to run this project we hope that in the longer term there will be a greater diversity in the students taking up the variety of outward mobility projects available to them and that those opportunities will be made more accessible in order to establish a tradition of Strathclyde graduates that have their lives enriched through global opportunities.”
The projects that will receive Outward Mobility Funding in 2015/16 are:
- University of Edinburgh - £30,000 to fund previously under-represented cohorts of students to undertake study trips to Chennai in India or Shanghai in China.
- Robert Gordon University - £19,197 for a multi-disciplinary health and wellbeing project in Manipal City in India.
- University of the West of Scotland - £15,510 to take a group of sports science students to conduct physiological research and another group of zoology students to take part in a comparative analysis project in the USA.
- University of Glasgow - £15,000 for a study abroad taster programme to encourage longer study abroad periods. Visits will take place at partner universities in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Italy.
- Glasgow Caledonian University - £11,700 to take a group of student nurses to USA.
- Glasgow Caledonian University - £10,000 to take biomedical students to Hong Kong for four months and to support student mentors for incoming HK students.
- Glasgow Caledonian University - £10,000 to take social work students to participate in a series of international welfare and social work events in Sweden.
- University of the West of Scotland - £9,288 to take computing students to Nanjing in China for a summer school including employer visits and language classes.
- Edinburgh Napier University - £5,900 for a collaborative project for computing students in the USA.
- Strathclyde Students’ Association - £5,850 to take one group of students to the Czech Republic and another group to France.
- Strathclyde University - £5,000 to take social science students to Radboud University in the Netherlands.
- Queen Margaret University - £3,075 to take a mixed group of associate further education students and Queen Margaret University students to the Netherlands.
- St Andrews University - £2,500 to take students to the USA for one week and to undertake wider mobility support project work.
More information on the Outward Mobility Fund can be found here.
Case Study
Mary Gathergood and Rhian Collins were part of a group of eight BA Hospitality and Tourism Management students at Edinburgh Napier University who took part in a week-long study visit to Switzerland- a trip that was half-funded by last year’s round of the Outward Mobility Fund.
What did you do during your study trip?
Mary: We worked in groups throughout the week with people from 10 other countries, sharing our ideas within tourism and learning about the Valais region.
Rhian: We were put into groups with lots of people from other participating countries in order to create an authentic tour package for the Valais region.
What do you think your most significant achievements were?
Mary: I successfully worked within a team of international students I had just met, came to a mutual agreement on our focus and product of the Valais region and presented our findings. It developed my ability to work under pressure and it boosted my confidence.
Rhian: I have made many new friends from a number of countries. I also achieved a better understanding of tourism authenticity. I have developed my team working skills and ability to deal with different situations within a mixed group.
What are your aspirations for your future career?
Mary: To travel with the job I do and learn more about different cultures and work in a variety of environments.
Rhian: To travel round the world meeting lots of new people.
Would you recommend future participation in European Project Week to other students?
Mary: YES. It’s a week you will never forget and will meet friends from all over the world. The three best things were the friendships, the inspiration and the motivation to take every opportunity possible!
Rhian: Yes, it’s an amazing experience that allows you to gain knowledge about your course and lets you experience new cultures and gain many new friends!
