Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 35) SPONSORED BY www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK ADVICE AND INFORMATION 35 BUILDING RELATIONS The primary motivation for promoting Scotland as a place to live, work and study is addressing the country’s declining population and benefit the economy, but there are additional benefits of the Fresh Talent Initiative. ‘It’s about making our country more dynamic and cosmopolitan,’ Ian explains. ‘It’s about getting more diversity in the workforce.’ As a result, the Fresh Talent team also provides grants for universities with innovative ways to integrate new students into the university community and life in Scotland. Judging by the feedback Ian receives, this has been successful. ‘When I speak to students, the first thing they say is that everybody is so friendly. On the other hand, however, they quite often comment on the weather,’ Ian smiles. ‘The upside is the people - how hospitable and welcoming they are. The downside is the weather.’ But the climate is not a disadvantage for everyone. Geraldine Trufil from the Philippines originally visited Scotland as a nanny. When her employers offered to help her with the costs of further study, she jumped at the chance and began an MSc in Waste Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. The Fresh Talent visa allowed Geraldine to secure her first role in her new career working as a Project Assistant at the Sustainability Centre in Glasgow looking at ways to promote the sustainability agenda in the construction industry. Within six months, Geraldine had been promoted to Project Coordinator. She now lives on the outskirts of Glasgow, near Loch Lomond and one of her favourite memories of Scotland was waking up on 25 December to her first experience of snow and a white Christmas. Climate aside, Scotland is welcoming postgraduates like Geraldine who gain from the recognised high standard of education because whether they stay in Scotland or go overseas they develop an affinity for the country which can only benefit the Scottish people. ‘What we are trying to achieve,’ Ian adds, ‘is a virtuous circle where Scotland has ambassadors overseas - not just Scots, but international graduates from Scottish universities who can boost Scotland’s place in the world.’ AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY Sebastine is clear in which direction he would like his career to take him. ‘My long-term goal is to solidify my engineering career here, build an adorable family, and make a meaningful contribution to the growth of Scotland.’ The Fresh Talent Initiative is attracting people like Geraldine and Sebastine to Scotland and helping to address the country’s demographic challenge. But as Sebastine suggests, the work of Ian and his team is clearly having a much wider impact. Not only are international graduates benefiting, but there are also clear advantages for the companies operating in Scotland, as well as the Scottish workforce and economy. And this virtuous circle, as Ian describes it, is exactly what the UK government now wants to achieve for the whole of Britain by rolling out the new IGS scheme. Welcome aboard. FURTHER INFORMATION www.workingintheuk.gov.uk www.scotlandistheplace.com www.scotlandscholarship.com One such ambassador is Sebastine Chibueze Osita who describes Scotland as a ‘friendly, lovely country with breathtaking countryside’. Sebastine came from Nigeria to take an MSc in Oil and Gas Engineering at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. He now works as a junior engineer and is full of praise for Aberdeen, where he and his family live. ‘As the oil capital of Europe, there are growing numbers of foreign workers and families living in Aberdeen. I’m more than impressed with the way the locals have accepted the changes taking place in their city and I see a bright future for Aberdeen.’ Having spent over three years in the city, http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk http://www.scotlandistheplace.com http://www.scotlandscholarship.com
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