First Minister celebrates success of educational exchange programme with U.S.

07 October 2010

Via the Fulbright Commission in Scotland

First Minister Alex Salmond today welcomed the increasing success of the Fulbright educational exchange programme in Scotland as the US-UK Fulbright Commission held its first ever meeting north of the border.

The Commission, which oversees the organisation’s activity and strategic direction and usually meets in London, held its latest meeting in Edinburgh, before meeting the First Minister at his official residence, Bute House, and attending a reception with alumni, current scholars and university staff.

Mr Salmond said: “The Scottish Government has worked closely and effectively with Fulbright to increase both awareness of its programme in Scotland and the number of trans-Atlantic exchanges between the two countries. Fulbright is one of the most distinguished academic exchange programmes in the world, with no fewer than 41 alumni being Nobel Laureates. The skills and experience that Scottish alumni pick up through the Fulbright Programme can make a real impact here in Scotland.

“From the very inception of our ancient universities, ours has been a nation that values higher education and which welcomes international students.  More than 3,000 students in Scotland in 2008-09 were from the United States.  We are supporting efforts to attract more overseas students, including from the USA. As well as funding Fulbright’s work over the last three years, we are supporting the North American Recruitment Group.  And our own Saltire Scholarships scheme offers 200 scholarships, including 50 allocated to the USA, to help finance study in one-year Masters courses. I am pleased to welcome the US-UK Commission as it holds its inaugural meeting in Scotland and sincerely hope that it will be the first of many.”

Sandy Kaiser, Chair of the Board of the US-UK Fulbright Commission, added: “Working together, the Scottish Government and Fulbright have made an excellent start on increasing the number of Scottish participants in the Fulbright programme. The investment is already making a return.  In three years, we have seen increased Fulbright applications and success rates for Scottish nationals, as well as more American Fulbrighters in Scotland. However, this is just the start, and we really need to capitalise on this opportunity and ensure that this budding partnership is nurtured and supported into the future.”

Background:

The US-UK Fulbright Commission was created by treaty on 22 September 1948 in the aftermath of the Second World War. Created through the vision of US Senator J. William Fulbright, the worldwide Fulbright Programme operates in over 150 countries and promotes mutual cultural understanding through educational exchange.

The Fulbright Commission offers grants for postgraduate and postdoctoral study at accredited institutions in the US and UK, as well as shorter exchange programmes for younger scholars.  Scottish alumni include Professor Sir Patrick Forrest, whose work led to the establishment of the UK breast screening programme; former leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy MP and Dundee-based artist Simon Reekie.

 The Scottish Government committed annual funding of £60,000 for three years for the first time in April 2008 to help increase awareness of the Fulbright programme in Scotland and the number of trans-Atlantic academic exchanges between the two countries.  Seven Scottish universities have since signed new partnership agreements and Fulbright has been able to introduce a variety of Fulbright awards between Scotland and the US, including summer schools, post-grads, police fellows, scholars and incoming visiting professorships, distinguished teachers and senior specialists. Nine different exchanges are planned between Scotland and the US under the Fulbright programme in this current academic year (2010-11).

Among those attending today’s reception was Fulbright award recipient Valerie Wallace, who will go to the United States next year to research the possibility of introducing Scottish studies to an American academic audience with the ambition of emulating the success of Irish Studies across the USA.

Further information about the Fulbright schemes, including biographies of the 2010-11 scholars, can be read at: http://www.fulbright.co.uk