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A group of Saltire Scholarship students from Heriot-Watt University met with Shirley-Anne Somerville, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science this week, to celebrate Heriot-Watt’s recent award success.
Heriot-Watt was named International University of the Year in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 on Sunday, and is the first university to receive the award.
The university was also ranked in the top five of Scotland’s universities and top 40 in the UK by the same awards.
Heriot-Watt operates as an integrated, global university across three countries and offers students and staff exceptional opportunities for mobility in their education and research.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, met with five Saltire Scholarship students at Heriot-Watt to celebrate the award wins and hear more about the students’ truly global experiences at Heriot-Watt University.
Ms Somerville, said: “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to Heriot Watt University on becoming the first institution to receive the Sunday Times award as International University of the Year. It is a testament to the university’s long-standing commitment and years of hard work by its staff in developing a wide range of successful global partnerships and programmes.
“We want to develop a Scotland that is better connected to the world, and to provide our young people with the knowledge and skills they need to help them take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.
“We in turn need to be open to the ideas, skills and different perspectives that students, researchers institutions and businesses from around the world can bring. I am very pleased to offer a very warm welcome to the Saltire scholars and other international students who are now beginning their courses in Scotland.
“Your contribution to the culture and diversity of our universities and wider society is valued and appreciated.”
Professor Richard A. Williams OBE, added: “Heriot-Watt operates as an integrated, global university across three countries and offers students and staff exceptional opportunities for mobility in their education and research.
“Our whole community receives tremendous benefits from our global outlook, whether learning on one or more of our campuses across the world, or working with world-leading academics on challenge-led research that actively supports delivery of sustainable development goals.”
The Saltire Scholarship programme is designed to support the promotion of Scotland as a learning and science nation and target priority sectors including; creative industries, life sciences, technology, financial services, renewable and clean energy across key priority countries.
Students who enrol under the Saltire Scholarship scheme do so on a match funded basis between the Scottish Government and higher education institutions.
The match funding is used to pay for tuition fees, for any one year of full-time studies on an Undergraduate, Masters or PhD programme.
Heriot-Watt was selected as International University of the Year in recognition of its truly global presence and impact: the university has five global campuses in the UK, Dubai and Malaysia.