Fresh Talent: International Students Challenge Fund

Important Announcement

The Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students Challenge Fund was launched in April 2005.  It provided funding to Colleges and Universities to support employability projects for international students during their time in Scotland. 

The aim of the fund was to kick start support within institutions, after four rounds of funding which have provided around £900,000 for 73 projects across Scotland, the Scottish Government has decided to discontinue the Challenge Fund after the current round of projects finishes in September 2009.   

The Challenge Fund has helped Scottish institutions raise the level of support and advice available for international students and we would like to thank all those institutions and individuals who have worked on projects it has supported.  The fund leaves a legacy of improved support for international students and you can find examples of the projects the fund has supported over the years at www.scotlandistheplace.com/challengefund.  However following feedback from stakeholders it is clear that Challenge Funding also has its limitations and we feel that we have achieved as much as we can through the current mechanism. 

We recognise the need to continue to attract and retain international students and migrant workers if we are to weather the current economic climate, meet our challenging population growth targets and support our purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth.  To that end,  we will continue to work with stakeholders to find the most cost-effective ways of promoting Scotland as a great place to visit, study, live, work and to do business. April 2009

Please Contact FreshTalentChallenge@scotland.gsi.gov.uk if you have any questions or comments.

Challenge Fund Seminar 2008

In November 2008 the Fresh Talent Policy team held a seminar which looked at support for international students and the impact the Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students Challenge Fund had made. The day was attended by 32 delegates and we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the day.

You can access the report from the day below, along with copies of the presentations given where they are available. If you have any comments please contact us at freshtalentchallenge@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

• Report - Fresh Talent Challenge Fund Seminar - November 2008 (PDF, 30Kb)
• AGCAS -Careers Services of the four West of Scotland Universities (PDF, 109Kb)
• Careers Service - Barbara Graham and Hazel McAllisrter Careers Service (PDF, 211Kb)
• Napier Uni - International Alliance Project (PDF, 24Kb)
•      Sucessful Projects 2008/2009