From 2 – 5 December 2017, a delegation of 21 senior leaders from Scotland’s higher
education sector will accompany Scotland’s Deputy First Minister John Swinney
on an official visit to India.
The delegation will join the Scottish Government, Scottish Development
International and the British Council as they meet with key Indian government
officials, education policymakers and business leaders. They will share the message that ‘Scotland’s universities welcome India’ and demonstrate Scotland’s reputation for excellence in research, innovation and learning.
To deepen existing relationships and build new partnerships with the higher
education sector and key industries in India, a joint-programme of events hosted by 11 of Scotland’s universities and the Scottish Government will be presented in Mumbai and Delhi.
The programme will include an alumni event for recent graduates and business
leaders who have studied in Scottish universities or worked in collaboration with them, a research and innovation seminar to showcase incredible international
partnership projects between Scotland and India, and a traditional St Andrew’s Day reception to celebrate Scottish culture.
There are currently over 1,300 Indian students studying in Scotland and the
delegation will celebrate the excellent quality of Indian students at under-graduate and post-graduate levels in Scottish universities. During the trip, Scottish universities will promote scholarship opportunities for Indian students studying in Scotland and reinforce their commitment to welcoming excellent scholars.
Higher education institutes in Scotland already have over 70 collaborations with India, including student exchange programmes, research partnerships and joint-courses. To highlight opportunities for partnership and collaboration between Scotland and India, delegates will discuss world-leading research projects on topics including the security of water and food, health and medical technologies, big data and future cities.
A wide range of partnerships and collaborations will be showcased by the delegation.
This will include projects such as:
- Urban transformation studies from the University of Glasgow’s Urban Big Data Centre to improve planning and development of cities in India
- Heriot-Watt University’s research on technology to deliver arsenic-free water to affected communities in India and Abertay University’s work on sustainable urban drainage systems
- A sustainable fashion show hosted in Mumbai by the University of the West of
Scotland (UWS) with Glasgow Kelvin College, Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow Caledonian University
Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal at Heriot-Watt University and Convener of
Universities Scotland’s International Committee at Universities Scotland said : “Scottish universities are celebrating their long-standing connections with India in this visit and are united in their warm welcome to students, universities and business partners.
“Our internationally recognised excellence in pioneering education and research is especially relevant as India and UK adopt new medical and energy technologies and policies underpinned by our modern digital lifestyles. To mark the visit, we are also pleased to present a wide range of scholarships opportunities for students. Scotland’s universities are passionate about our partnership with India.”
The India higher education mission is part a global campaign called ‘Scotland’s universities welcome the world’ which celebrates the diversity and inclusivity of Scottish universities. It is backed by all 19 higher education institutions across Scotland, which are already home to over 180 different nationalities among their students and staff.
More information here. Check out the hashtag #ScotlandwelcomesIndia
