International scholarship scheme at Nottingham celebrates 10 successful years
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- Education
- Thursday, 03 May 2012 12:19
- Published on Thursday, 03 May 2012 17:19
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Gujarat Global News Network, Ahmedabad
A pioneering international scholarship scheme which has supported 850 overseas students from more than 30 countries in their ambition to study in the UK is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The University of Nottingham is due to mark this major milestone of its flagship Developing Solutions programme by transforming it from its foundations as a scholarship programme to a broader scheme to promote the exchange of skills and knowledge from staff and students in the UK with their peers from developing nations.
The enhanced scheme will also provide further funding towards travel and living expenses to ensure that the most talented overseas students have the opportunity to study at Nottingham regardless of their financial circumstances.
Director of The University of Nottingham’s International Office Vincenzo Raimo said: “Developing Solutions is an investment in the development and growth of nations through individuals. Our vision is for it to grow into a UK flagship scheme for international scholarships, recognised for its support of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
“A single scholarship has the potential to transform many lives. Graduates are encouraged to return to their home countries to share and use the skills they have learned. Developing Solutions scholarships not only promote international education; the beneficiaries can have a real impact in the development and prosperity of their home countries.”
The Developing Solutions programme was launched in 2001 to widen access to UK universities for students from developing countries and to promote international transfer of vital skills and to-date has helped in the region of 850 students from 32 nations.
Working with external organisations and partner institutions, the scheme aims to empower students through learning so they can make a real difference to the development and prosperity of their home country.
The scheme focuses on one-year Masters of Science (MSc) programmes that have development and sustainability at their core and sits alongside the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DfID) and UK universities to support students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise have the chance to study in the UK.
The Developing Solutions Scholarship scheme will offer 105 scholarships in 2012: 30 which will cover 100% of the tuition fee, and 75 to pay for 50% of the cost. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, meanwhile, provide seven students each year with full tuition fee awards, airfare, maintenance and additional allowances to remove all financial barriers to talented students coming to Nottingham to study.
Najabat Ali Khan, a beneficiary of a Developing Solutions scholarship, said: “I chose to study an MSc in Computer Science and Entrepreneurship because it is unique and highly valued in the software industry. With the current credit crunch, it can be really hard for students or their parents to bear the financial cost associated with higher education. Scholarships can play a vital role to eliminate the issue of funding as a barrier to education for brilliant minds.”
However, almost one-third of successful scholarship winners are forced to decline the award due to financial constraints. The enhanced Developing Solutions programme will aim to provide greater assistance with travel and living expenses to more students through the support of the University’s Impact Campaign, which is aiming to raise £150 million over the next five years to support a series of high-impact projects on the local, national and global stage.
The 10th anniversary of the Developing Solutions programme — and the successes of past and current scholars — was celebrated with a conference hosted at Nottingham’s University Park campus on Monday April 30.
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